Miner Rush's Preseason Predictions

Here is how our MinerRush writers see the 2015 season playing out just hours before the season opener.

September 5th @ Arkansas

Alex Nicolas----LOSS----Lets just hope we make it out healthy, and put a drive or two together against their first team defense.

asalom----LOSS---Just not enough balance on offense to hang for four quarters

PayDirtRenzo----LOSS---- Best case scenario: Miners hang tough for a while, but Arkansas is supposed to be a sleeper in the SEC and I don't see them overlooking us.

September 12th @ Texas Tech

Alex Nicolas----LOSS ----We match up well upfront, but our secondary concerns me, Tech has lots of speed.

asalom-----WIN-----Its a toss up, something tells me Kugs gets it done

PayDirtRenzo----LOSS---- We almost had em last year, so I'm sure Tech will be ready for us at home. Still think it'll be close though.

September 19th @ NMSU

Alex Nicolas----WIN----Seven in a row vs. that JUCO down the road, we beat up on the Aggies again, then UIW or another Southland school gets a Sun Belt invite as a full member right as we raise the traveling trophies.

asalom----WIN----Don't really need much reasoning here...

PayDirtRenzo----WIN----I think the Miners will go into Cruces battle-tested and hungry for a win.

September 26th vs. Incarnate Word

Alex Nicolas----WIN----Yeah, can anyone say over six yards per carry average for UTEP.

asalom-----WIN-----Christ....

PayDirtRenzo----WIN-----Big win for the Miners in the home-opener.

October 3rd vs. UTSA

Alex Nicolas----WIN-----UTSA maybe beat up from a tough non-conference schedule by this point. UTEP in a close, physical battle in the final minute.

asalom----WIN----Runners are just too depleted from a year ago.

PayDirtRenzo----WIN---This might turn into a nice football rivalry. I like us at home after two wins in a row to keep the streak going and start 1-0 in conference play.

October 10th @ FIU

Alex Nicolas----LOSS-----FIU has a damn good defense, and well we don't play very well in the Eastern Time Zone in early games.

asalom----LOSS-----This one is scary, east coast, earlier in the day, screams let down.

PayDirtRenzo----LOSS-----You know how every year there's a tough loss we didn't see coming? I think that might happen on the long trip to Florida after riding high.

October 24th vs. FAU

Alex Nicolas----WIN----This is going be a damn good, hard hitting game, Kugler keeps his home C-USA winning streak alive with a late TD.

asalom----WIN---- FAU is much improved, but Miners bounce back at home

PayDirtRenzo-----WIN-----I like the Miners to bounce back at home with a win against the other Florida school.

October 31st @ Southern Miss.

Alex Nicolas----LOSS-----Tough game IMO, their offense is going to be explosive, my take on this game might change, but here in September, So Miss. out scores us.

asalom-----WIN----Until they prove otherwise, our program is just in a better spot than that one.

PayDirtRenzo----LOSS---- The Golden Eagles WILL be better this year, and they'll definitely show up at home for the Miners in an important mid-season game.

November 6th. vs. Rice

Alex Nicolas-----WIN-----We owe them two for playing them in the H in back-to-back years, look for a big game from Aaron Jones against what could be a weaker Rice defense than the past two years.  Shootout alert.

asalom----LOSS----Rice has just had our number for years.

PayDirtRenzo----WIN-----I like the Miners to hold serve at home, even against what would be the toughest conference opponent they've played to date. Moving to 3-2 at this point would still provide help.

November 14th @ Old Dominion

Alex Nicolas----WIN----Another toss up for me. Tough road trip, but we were able to manhandle ODU upfront last year, I can see that happening again in a close win.

asalom----WIN---- No more Heinecke, no more prolific passing.

PayDirtRenzo-----WIN----The upstart Monarchs surprised a lot last year, but I think UTEP will have found themselves by this point in the season and can pull out the victory in Virginia.

November 21st vs. LA Tech

Alex Nicolas----LOSS-----The C-USA home winning streak ends, LA Tech should be clicking by this point of the season on both sides of the ball.

asalom----LOSS----Just not sure if we're there yet

PayDirtRenzo----LOSS-----At this point, this would be a clash with possibly 1st place in the West on the line. I think it would be the game of the season, but this year. I think the Bulldogs have more  firepower than the Miners.

November 28th. @ North Texas

Alex Nicolas------WIN------They have a lot of questions outside of their stud WR Carlos Harris, not sure how their defensive line improves in a year from what we saw last year. 7-5 again.

asalom----WIN---- 8-4.

PayDirtRenzo----WIN----I think the Miners can close out strong against what I think might be one of the weaker teams this year at 5-3 in C-USA place for a 2nd or 3rd place division finish and 7-5 overall.

PayDirtRenzo's postseason bonus

Inaugural Arizona Bowl in Tucson, AZ vs Air Force---Win----If Kugler can pull off the first bowl victory in decades for the Miners, well then we'll have some SERIOUS momentum heading into 2016-2017. I'm hopeful.