UTEP Miners 2023 Future Odds
UTEP positioned to Rebound after Disappointing Setback in 2022
The UTEP Miners are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2022 campaign. They have plenty of pieces to do so, but success has proven elusive far too often.
What’s in store for 2023? Read on as we break down the UTEP Miners future odds in our team preview.
UTEP Miners At A Glance
| Odds to Win | Opening Odds | Current Odds |
| National Championship | +100000 | +100000 |
| Conference | +1300 | +1000 |
| Regular Season Win Total | 5.5 (o-120, u-110) | 5.5 (o-130, u-EV) |
| To Make Playoffs (if applicable) | N/A | N/A |
Modest Expectations Despite 2022 Struggles
The UTEP Miners went 5-7 in 2022, failing to build off a surprising seven-win season the year previous. It was the seventh time in eight seasons they missed qualifying for a bowl.
While the Miners continue to be an afterthought come the postseason, expectations remain modest for head coach Dana Dimel’s squad. A bowl is possible, with oddsmakers projecting the Miners for 5.5 victories.
Much of the optimism surrounds the return of quarterback Gavin Hardison, who threw for 2,044 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. A senior, Hardison boasts the kind of experience that could prove fruitful for the Miners in the ever-changing Conference USA. Junior running back Deion Hankins, who rushed for 5.0 yards a carry in 2022, is also back. The Miners ranked 70th in total offense (averaged 384.8 yards per game), but it’s reasonable to think they could be better with another year under their belts.
The Miners were hit hard in the transfer portal, losing some key contributors to Power Five schools. Among them: All-Conference Offensive tackle Jeremiah Byers, who left for Florida State. That’ll undoubtedly hurt depth, but there are now plenty of opportunities for newcomers to emerge.
Notably, UTEP’s last bowl victory came in the 1967 Sun Bowl. It’s lost seven consecutive bowls since then. Can the Miners end that drought?
National Championship Odds: Don’t Bother. There’s No Chance.
Hear that? Don’t waste your time. Or better yet, your wallet. The Miners aren’t going to win a national championship. There’s absolutely no chance. A bowl game is the ceiling here. At +100000, the Miners are the longest of long shots. Even that seems a bit generous.
Conference Odds: Longshot in New-Look C-USA
C-USA was a big player in realignment this offseason, with six schools bolting for seemingly greener pastures. Two-time defending champion UTSA left, as did North Texas, UAB, Charlotte, Florida Atlantic, and Rice. C-USA added former independents Liberty and New Mexico State to replace them, along with FCS programs Jacksonville State and Sam Houston.
Due to FBS transition rules, Jacksonville State and Sam Houston will both be ineligible to compete for a C-USA title in 2023-24. That narrows the field quite a bit. In fact, only seven schools are eligible, headlined by Western Kentucky (+130) and Liberty (+250). UTEP is a 10/1 longshot. That sounds about right.
Regular Season Wins: November Shaping Up as Pivotal
UTEP is projected for 5.5 wins, with the Under boosted to Even money. Frankly, it seems a bit high. The Miners have hit that total just once in the last eight seasons, finishing 7-6 in 2021 with a loss in the New Mexico Bowl per college football scores. They were also pegged for 5.5 victories last season but wound up hitting the Under.
UTEP’s schedule is favorable, which could help explain the oddsmakers’ thinking. The Miners open Aug. 26 at Jacksonville State. According to college football point spreads the Miners are currently a 1-point (-110 favorite. They then host FCS powerhouse Incarnate Word the following week before facing Northwestern, Arizona, and UNLV.
It’s relatively manageable until November, when UTEP gets Western Kentucky (Nov. 4), Middle Tennessee (Nov. 18), and Liberty (Nov. 25) to close out the regular season. Those are arguably the conference’s three best teams. Fortunately, they’ll play two of them at home. That stretch could prove pivotal when assessing the UTEP Miners future odds.
To Make Playoffs: Not Even a Thought
No team from C-USA has ever made the College Football Playoff. That won’t change this year. Or next year. Or the year after. The conference, to be blunt, just isn’t good enough in the NCAAF rankings. Neither is UTEP, which will be fortunate just to make a bowl. As such, there are no UTEP Miners future odds available in this market at the moment.
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