Week 5 of the 2025 College Football season sets the stage for a Conference USA encounter between the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and the UTEP Miners. The game will be played at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, with kickoff scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 9:00 PM local time. Fans can catch the action live on ESPN+.
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs enter this game with a solid 3-1 record, having demonstrated strong performances at home. However, their road record tells a different story as they are yet to secure a win away from Joe Aillet Stadium. Their most recent victory came against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles with a score of 30-20.
On the other side, the UTEP Miners are looking to turn around a challenging start to their season, currently holding a 1-3 record. Despite the struggles, they have managed to secure one win at home. In their latest outing, they narrowly fell to the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks 31-25, in a game held at their home stadium, the Sun Bowl.
UTEP vs Louisiana Tech At a Glance
- Game Date & Time: Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 9:00 PM
- Venue: Sun Bowl in El Paso, TX
- TV Channel: ESPN+
- Louisiana Tech Record: 3-1 overall, 0-1 on the road
- UTEP Record: 1-3 overall, 1-1 at home
- Game Odds: Louisiana Tech -189, UTEP +158, Spread -4.0 in favor of Louisiana Tech
UTEP Miners Prepare for Louisiana Tech Showdown
Offensive Insights
The UTEP Miners’ offense has shown significant improvement in their passing game this season, ranking 27th nationally with 1,077 yards. Malachi Nelson has been instrumental, ranking first in team passing yards with 1,069. However, their rushing attack hasn’t matched this performance, placing them 113th with just 380 yards.
In their recent game against Louisiana-Monroe, UTEP put up 409 passing yards but struggled with their ground game, managing only 33 rushing yards. Despite these challenges, they have been effective in converting first downs, ranking 41st nationally with 66.
Defensive Dynamics
Defensively, UTEP is a mixed bag, excelling in some areas while needing improvement in others. They rank 8th in the nation with 10 sacks and have shown prowess in recovering fumbles, ranking 5th. Yet, they have allowed 103 points, ranking 71st, indicating room for growth.
UTEP’s defense will need to tighten up against the run, as demonstrated in their recent games where opponents, such as Louisiana-Monroe, managed 252 rushing yards. Their ability to intercept has been notable, with a national ranking of 2nd for interceptions.
Key Players to Watch
Malachi Nelson, UTEP’s quarterback, is a player to watch with impressive numbers that place him first in team passing yards and fantasy points. His performance will be crucial in this upcoming game. Wide receiver Kenny Odom, despite being questionable with a shoulder injury, has been a top target with 236 receiving yards.
Running back Hahsaun Wilson leads the team in rushing yards with 177 and will need to step up to help balance their offensive attack. The absence of Kam Thomas, due to a lower body injury, places more pressure on Wilson and the rushing unit.
Injury Concerns
UTEP’s injury list could impact their performance, with linebacker Nate Dyman and wide receiver Jaden Smith out for the season. Kam Thomas’ absence is also a blow to their rushing game. The status of Kenny Odom remains uncertain, which could affect their passing efficiency.
Betting Trends
- O/U – After Loss: 4-0 in the last 4 games
- O/U – As Favorite: 3-0 in the last 3 games
- O/U – Home Games: 3-0 in the last 3 games
- SU – As Favorite: 13-8 in the last 21 games
- O/U – All Games: 8-4 in the last 12 games
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs Set for Away Game Challenge
Offensive Overview
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have scored 110 points this season, ranking 46th nationally. Their passing game has amassed 665 yards, placing them at 103rd, while their rushing game is more effective with 670 yards, securing the 51st spot. The team has achieved 65 first downs, ranked 42nd overall.
In the previous season, the Bulldogs scored 272 points, ranking 84th, with a passing yardage of 2914, which was 62nd in the nation. The rushing game lagged behind, with 1475 yards placing them at 108th. They secured 235 first downs, ranked 68th.
Defensive Performance
This season, the Bulldogs have allowed 57 points, ranking them 33rd defensively. They have recorded 10 sacks, which places them 8th in the nation, and have intercepted 6 passes, ranking 7th. Additionally, the team has recovered 2 fumbles, ranking 4th.
Last season, Louisiana Tech allowed 273 points, ranking 70th, with 21 sacks placing them 29th. They recorded 5 interceptions and recovered 12 fumbles, both ranking 6th and 4th respectively.
Key Players
Quarterback Blake Baker has thrown for 443 yards this season, with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Trey Kukuk has contributed 227 passing yards and 2 touchdowns, with one interception. On the ground, Clay Thevenin leads with 162 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.
Wide receiver Devin Gandy has been a standout with 116 receiving yards and a touchdown from 6 receptions. Tight end Eli Finley has 232 receiving yards from 14 receptions, contributing significantly to the passing game.
Recent Game Performances
The Bulldogs defeated Southern Miss 30-20, showcasing strong defensive capabilities. Earlier, they registered a dominant 49-14 win over New Mexico State, with a remarkable 371 rushing yards. They faced a setback against LSU, losing 23-7, but bounced back with a 24-0 win against Southeastern Louisiana.
Upcoming Game
Louisiana Tech is scheduled to play against the UTEP Miners, marking an away game at the Sun Bowl. They are currently favorites with a -4.0 point spread. The Bulldogs have shown consistency on the road, winning their last 4 away games.
Team Betting Trends
- ATS – All Games: 9-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – As Underdog: 6-0 (100.0%)
- SU – As Favorite: 5-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – Home Games: 5-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – After Win: 5-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – As Underdog: 21-7-1 (72.4%)
- ATS – As Favorite: 4-0 (100.0%)
- SU – Home Games: 4-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – Away Games: 4-0 (100.0%)
UTEP vs Louisiana Tech Prediction: Over 48.5
Given UTEP’s recent performance, with their last four games exceeding the total after a loss, the trend points towards another high-scoring game. Louisiana Tech has also shown a propensity to score, having accumulated 110 points this season. The combination of UTEP’s ability to cover the over, especially at home, and Louisiana Tech’s offensive capabilities suggests a game total surpassing 48.5 points.
UTEP’s recent games have consistently hit the over, with a 4-0 record in games post-loss. This, coupled with their home game trend of 3-0 for overs, strengthens the expectation of a high-scoring affair. Louisiana Tech’s offense, averaging over 27 points per game, further supports this outlook.
In head-to-head encounters, these teams have played games that went both under and over the total, but the current season stats hint at a higher likelihood of an offensive showdown. Considering both teams’ defensive vulnerabilities and UTEP’s offensive trends, the over seems the stronger play.
Overall, the game is projected to end with a scoreline that supports the over, with Louisiana Tech edging out UTEP. The predictive score is Louisiana Tech 28 – UTEP 24.
- UTEP vs Louisiana Tech Prediction: Over 48.5
- UTEP vs Louisiana Tech Score: Louisiana Tech 28 – UTEP 24
