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    What Channel Is the UTEP-Sam Houston State Game On? NFL Draft Prospects To Watch

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    Wednesday night's CFB slate brings us a C-USA showdown between the UTEP Miners and Sam Houston State Bearkats. Where can you find the game?

    Wednesday night’s CFB slate brings us a Texas showdown in the C-USA when the UTEP Miners head to Sam Houston State to take on the Bearkats.

    UTEP is 2-6 on the season after their 28-7 loss to New Mexico State last week and are clinging on to the last hopes for a bowl game berth.

    Sam Houston State is the only winless team left in the FBS after a heartbreaking 33-27 loss to Florida International last week.

    What Channel Airs the UTEP-Sam Houston State Game?

    UTEP @ Sam Houston State

    • Start Time: 8 p.m. ET
    • Channel: ESPN2
    • Odds: Sam Houston State -3
    • Over/Under Total: 36

    One of the main storylines to watch in this one is the health of UTEP quarterback Gavin Hardison. Hardison missed the last three games with an injury to his throwing arm, but his status for this game is up in the air as of the time of this writing. Cade McConnell has started the last two games for UTEP and has passed for 441 yards and two touchdowns.

    UTEP’s run game has been reliable, but teams have been teeing off on their rushing attack without Hardison’s arm to threaten them deep. The Miners are averaging 151 yards a game on the ground behind the talented duo of Deion Hankins and Torrance Burgess Jr. The two are third and fourth in the C-USA in rushing yards, respectively, and are top five in the C-USA in missed tackles forced (Hankins leads all C-USA backs).

    UTEP has a talented offensive line. Center Andrew Meyer has been one of the country’s best centers this season, allowing just two pressures and paving the way up front. The Miners boast a ferocious guard duo in Elijah Klein and Justin Mayers as well, making UTEP’s interior offensive line one of the best in the nation despite being totally unheralded.

    Klein has played multiple positions throughout his career and has paved open lanes single-handedly at times for this UTEP ground game. Klein has also allowed just three pressures coming into this game. There’s NFL-caliber upside here, and he could be the first UTEP player drafted since Will Hernandez in 2018.

    The tackle room has been banged up, however. Left tackle Steven Hubbard hasn’t played after suffering a cheap shot injury against Louisiana Tech after getting his head/neck stepped on. In his absence, right tackle Zuri Henry flipped over to left tackle, and Aluma Nkele took over the right tackle job. Yet, Nkele suffered an injury against NMSU, and his status is uncertain as well.

    This UTEP offense will have to square off against one of the best defenses in the conference. Sam Houston State has allowed just nine touchdown passes and the fewest passing yards in the C-USA.

    Corners Dakerric Hobbs and David Fisher have allowed just 18 receptions and two touchdowns between them, and just behind them is another productive corner in Da’Veawn Armstead, who is tied for the team lead in pass breakups.

    Sam Houston State’s run defense is going to have to step up in this one. While the Bearkats have been reliable, UTEP’s rushing attack is potent. Linebacker Trevor Williams is second in the conference in run stops with 32, but the interior of the Bearkats defensive line has been a problem against the run.

    The deciding matchup in this game will be Sam Houston State’s offense against UTEP. The Bearkats offense has been the team’s kryptonite all season. Quarterback Keegan Shoemaker has been the only sort of offense for the team so far, and while his play has gotten better, the team hasn’t been able to string enough successful drives together offensively.

    The Bearkats have little to no run game presence, with just 520 yards on the ground all season, so the team is virtually one-dimensional and forced to pass often to get much going. UTEP is allowing just the second-fewest passing yards per game in the C-USA, but they are allowing the most yards per attempt.

    UTEP boasts a talented pass-rush duo who could harass Shoemaker all game long. Praise Amaewhule and Maurice Westmoreland are both top five in the C-USA in pressures, and the duo has 10 sacks between them.

    UTEP linebacker Tyrice Knight is going to be the best player on the field all night. Knight leads all linebackers nationwide in run stops and solo tackles. He has great instincts and plays with his hair on fire with a motor that seemingly doesn’t stop. He has the attention of NFL scouts and could be UTEP’s first player drafted since Will Hernandez in 2018.

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