Published: August 27, 2008 10:53 pm            

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: UB opener should be a shootout

Mike Price coined a new term this week during a conference call with local reporters.

“We couldn’t stop anybody last year,” the Texas-El Paso coach said. “We played E-fense. Defense with no D.”

The Miners, who play in Conference USA, won four times last year, because of an offense that averaged more than 33 points and 422 years. Trouble is, the defense gave up more than 500 and 37 yards, on average.

Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bulls achieved a 5-7 record, their best since joining Division I in 1999, because of an offense that produced more than 347 yards and 24 points on a per-week basis — encouraging numbers, but significantly less than their defense allowed (405 yards, 27 points).

Both teams have back more than two-thirds of their 2007 starting lineups, which suggests plenty of points will be scored when the college football season kicks off tonight at UB Stadium.

UB coach Turner Gill says his offensive goals remain the same regardless of what the opposition is capable of doing when they have the ball. Ten of UB’s returning starters are offensive players, led by quarterback Drew Willy and tailback James Starks (Niagara Falls). With Gill in his second year calling the plays, the Bulls expect to score often this season.

Oddsmakers have installed UB is a field goal favorite. Those three points represent UB’s home field advantage, which should be aided by what’s expected to be one of the biggest crowds in stadium history. But at least one observer thinks UB is considerably better than UTEP — and he holds no allegiance to the Bulls.

Joe Muench has covered the Miners for decades, and in a blog entry for the El Paso Times wrote: “Let’s be honest. Buffalo is about a 17-point favorite.”

Muench’s concern is that Miners quarterback Trevor Vittatoe might be in line for a sophomore slump, and that UTEP hasn’t yet figured out how it will gain yards on the ground.

And, of course, he’s worried about the E-fense.

•••

GAME NIGHT

UB Bulls vs. UTEP Miners

• WHEN: 7 p.m.

• WHERE: UB Stadium

• RADIO: WECK 1230-AM

• TV: TWC-13

• NOTES: The Bulls are expecting a large crowd, but several thousand seats were still available Wednesday. ... UB’s Drew Willy needs just one completion to set a school record. ... This is the first time UTEP has ever played a game in New York. ... This is UB’s first meeting with a Conference USA team. Current C-USA members Marshall and Central Florida when a combined 13-2 against the Bulls when they played in the MAC.

        

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