FACTS & STATS: Site: Jones SBC Stadium (50,500) -- Lubbock, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: UTEP 1-0, Texas Tech 0-0. Away Record: UTEP 0-0, Texas Tech 1-0. Neutral Record: UTEP 0-0, Texas Tech 0-0. Conference Record: UTEP 0-0, Texas Tech 0-0. Series Record: Texas Tech leads, 13-6-1.

GAME NOTES: The Texas Tech Red Raiders welcome the in-state rival Texas-El Paso Miners to Lubbock for a non-conference tilt this weekend. Having grinded their way to a season-opening, 10-6 home win over New Mexico, the Miners now turn their attention to a more formidable foe. While the Miners rode the energy of a raucous home crowd and their flashy new all-orange uniforms, they must now find a way to get the job done in the unfriendly confines of Jones SBC Stadium. One player who could provide a boost is running back Marcus Thomas, who is listed as probable after serving a one-game suspension. Texas Tech opened its season by dismantling SMU on the road, 49-9 Monday night. But with just four days in between games, the Red Raiders have no time to savor the victory. In addition, there are a couple of players on that all-mighty offense who are hobbling around this week, one of which is star quarterback Graham Harrell. In terms of the all-time series, the Red Raiders hold a 13-6-1 advantage, including last year's 38-35 for their fourth straight defeat of UTEP.

The UTEP offense looked largely out of sync against New Mexico, until Terrell Jackson scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 36-yard run early in the fourth quarter. You have to go back 32 years to find the last time the Miners won a game when scoring only 10 points. Indeed, these are different times for the Miner offense, which is in the process of shifting from a pass-heavy approach of years past. Last season, the Miners led Conference USA in passing (312 ypg), but were dead last in rushing (57 ypg). With the departure of last year's star quarterback-receiver tandem, and the return of five starting offensive linemen, coach Mike Price is set on running the football. With the way freshman quarterback Trevor Vittatoe performed (6-of-21, 59 yards), that looks like a good idea. Behind Oregon transfer Jackson's 70 rushing yards, the Miners churned out 114 rushing yards on 4.6 ypc. With the looming return of Thomas (755 all-purpose yards last year) to the backfield, the carries should keep coming.

The defense, for all intents and purposes, is what kept the Miners hanging around long enough for Jackson to score the deciding touchdown. New Mexico did manage 193 rushing yards, but did so on a modest 3.8 ypc. Against the pass, the Miners allowed 190 yards. One area UTEP must improve upon is time of possession, as New Mexico held the ball for nearly twice as long as UTEP. New Mexico was 9-of-22 on third-down conversions, and 3-of-3 on fourth downs. The star of this unit is senior safety Quintin Demps, who was named Conference USA's Defensive Player of the Week for recording 16 tackles (1.5 TFL, one pass breakup). Linebacker Jeremy Jones also had a solid outing with 13 tackles (1.5 TFL, one QB hurry).

There are few areas the Red Raider offense needs to polish up on following Monday's 49-point outburst. The only real concern is with the short week of rest. That, and a couple of injuries worth keeping an eye on -- Harrell is probable with an ankle injury and wideout Todd Walker is questionable with a pelvis injury. Harrell picked apart the SMU secondary for a personal-best 44 completions, 419 yards and five touchdowns (one rushing). All of that came with a new cast of receivers and a new offensive line. Shannon Woods (10 carries, 45 yards) added a pair of touchdowns on the ground for a Texas Tech rushing attack that was efficient (4.4 ypc) but seldom used (18 carries).

The only points allowed by the Red Raiders' defense came on a trio of field goals. That's saying something, going up against SMU and reigning Conference USA Freshman of the Year quarterback Justin Willis. SMU was held to 15 first downs largely because Willis, who went 15-of-33 for 138 yards and two picks, never got settled down. He was also SMU's leading rusher with 40 yards on the ground. The Texas Tech secondary, which last year led the Big 12 by allowing just 182 passing yards per game, is the heart and soul of the defense with three returning starters.

Not long ago, a matchup between UTEP and Texas Tech meant a long night for the scoreboard operator. This season, it looks like the Red Raiders will be having all the fun. UTEP needs to dial up that running game early and often to not only take advantage of a suspect Red Raiders' front-seven, but also to keep Harrell and that vaunted Tech offense off the field.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas Tech 45, Texas-El Paso 17