UTEP vs Colorado State Prediction, Pick, Odds for Saturday, September 21

UTEP (0-3) travels to Fort Collins, Colorado, to play Colorado State (1-2).

The game starts Saturday, September 21st at 5:00 p.m. ET and can be seen live on truTV.

The Miners have lost to Liberty, Southern Utah and Nebraska this season, while the Rams are coming off a disappointing effort against rival Colorado.

Colorado State is favored by 9.5 points in the game, with a total set at 50.5. The Rams are also -360 on the moneyline.

Here's my UTEP vs. Colorado State prediction for Saturday, Sept. 21.

UTEP vs Colorado State Prediction

• UTEP vs Colorado State Pick: UTEP +9.5

My UTEP vs Colorado State best bet is on the Miners spread with the best line currently available at BetMGM, according to our live NCAAF odds page.

Saturday, September 21

5:00 p.m. ET

truTV

UTEP Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
+9.5 -110	50 -112o / -108u	+275

Colorado State Odds
Spread	Total	Moneyline
-9.5 -110	50 -112o / -108u	-360

Odds via BetRivers. Get up-to-the-minute NCAAF odds here.

• UTEP vs Colorado State Point Spread: UTEP +9.5 (-110) · Colorado State -9.5 (-110)
• UTEP vs Colorado State Total: Over/Under 50
• UTEP vs Colorado State Moneyline: UTEP +275 · Colorado State -360

UTEP vs Colorado State Preview

UTEP Miners Betting Preview: Unsurprising Offense, Decent Defense

UTEP enters this matchup with Colorado State off a better-than-expected performance against Liberty. UTEP lost the game 28-10 but did cover the 23.5-point spread.

The game was much closer than anticipated, as Liberty led just 14-10 in the late stages of the third quarter. Quarterback Skyler Locklear showed improvement in the loss, completing 26 of his 43 passes for 244 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Scotty Walden’s first year at the helm has seen some growing pains for UTEP, especially offensively, with a complete change in scheme, pace and philosophy. UTEP hasn’t done well in Standard Downs, Finishing Drives, or the passing game.

Unsurprisingly, the Miners are averaging 320 yards and 13 points per game. Their lack of explosive passing and below-average run game have made it difficult for them to sustain any drive.

The defense has been decent.

They held Nebraska to three points across their final three drives in Week 0 and only three explosive plays overall. The following week, they created 11 tackles for loss and four sacks against Southern Utah.

Colorado State Rams Betting Preview: Flippant Play With Football

Colorado State looks to rebound from a 28-9 loss against in-state rival Colorado.

In a highly anticipated matchup for the second year in a row, the Rams' offense couldn’t overcome turnovers and special teams miscues that plagued them all last year.

Five of the Rams' final six drives resulted in zero points, and four ended with turnovers. Colorado State is now -5 in turnover margin through three games, and while the sacks surrendered have improved, flippant play with the football hasn’t.

The metrics aren’t good. The Rams rank outside the top 100 nationally in Finishing Drives, EPA per Play, and Passing Downs Success Rate.

Even worse, superstar wide receiver Tory Horton is doubtful for Saturday.

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is a gunslinger at quarterback, but his effectiveness has been limited by turnovers, sacks and bad decision-making. He puts in the Ram in third-and-long too often.

The Rams have made a concerted effort to run the football more this year, leading to mixed results. They’re having some success but with zero explosiveness.

UTEP vs Colorado State

Matchup Analysis

Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how UTEP and Colorado State match up statistically:

UTEP Offense vs. Colorado State Defense

	Offense	Defense	Edge
Rush Success	85	71
Line Yards	98	72
Pass Success	106	122
Havoc	128	65
Finishing Drives	116	128
Quality Drives	121	111

Colorado State Offense vs. UTEP Defense

	Offense	Defense	Edge
Rush Success	53	109
Line Yards	88	93
Pass Success	113	114
Havoc	91	122
Finishing Drives	103	85
Quality Drives	115	114

Pace of Play / Other

PFF Tackling	93	56
PFF Coverage	115	125
Special Teams SP+	134	116
Middle 8	65	128
Seconds per Play	25.2 (29)	28.5 (90)
Rush Rate	48% (112)	53% (47)

UTEP vs Colorado State Pick & Prediction

I am taking UTEP +9.5 in this matchup of two struggling programs.

UTEP has done OK stopping the run, and I could see the Miners holding the rush-heavy Rams to limited rushing success. In turn, the Rams would rely on the mercurial Fowler-Nicolosi to carry them without Horton.

UTEP must piece together and finish drives, but there’s some hope. Colorado State ranks 130th nationally in Finishing Drives allowed and 111th in EPA per Play allowed. The Rams are vulnerable against the pass, and UTEP’s up-tempo, pass-happy offense can take advantage.

I don’t see that much separation between these two squads.

Pick: UTEP +9.5

• UTEP is 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS.
• Colorado State is 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS.
• UTEP is 3-0 to the under.
• Colorado State is 2-1 to the under.