The nonconference grind, part 1

It's a slow news day out of Houston, unless pilfered helmets and talk of a $61.5 million stadium project is stuff you like to read. That's all well and good, but we at TUTO like keeping discussion focused on what's on the field. 

So today, we're taking a look back at UTEP's nonconference schedule. We'll post some thoughts on what we thought before and after each of the Miners' first four games. Then we'll take a look at how good or bad those games look now with the season nearing the midway point. 

We invite readers to offer their input and analysis, too. 

And we'll start at the beginning -- the Buffalo game. 

Check back in to TUTO throughout the day to discuss the Kansas, NMSU and Texas games.

Buffalo Bulls, Sept. 5, Sun Bowl Stadium

Pregame perception: UTEP’s experienced offense should be better than Buffalo’s rebuilding offense, which was without its star running back and featured a quarterback making his first college start. 

UTEP result: L, 23-17

Postgame perplexity: So many Miner mistakes, including two key ones that negated a would-be game-winning touchdown. This is one that got away. 

Buffalo’s slate

Sept. 5 at UTEP W, 23-17

Sept. 12 Pittsburgh L, 54-27

Sept. 19 at UCF L, 23-17

Sept. 26 at Temple L, 37-13

Final thoughts: Buffalo seemed like it might be a better team than previously thought after playing steady in El Paso. A loss to Pitt (3-1) wasn’t a surprise. And Central Florida’s (2-2) BrightHouse Networks Stadium is a tough place to play. But Temple? The Owls are 1-2, with losses to Penn State and FCS school Villanova. Evidently, Buffalo is a team that really is rebuilding. And UTEP shouldn’t have let the Bulls get out of El Paso with a win. 

Comments

[just a thought]

Buffalo had the mental edge coming in this last meeting after their lopsided victory last year. The mental mistakes by UTEP just made the situation worse.

This game was definitely the one that got away because Buffalo is not as good as people thought. Then again neither are we...