Last Updated on November 10, 2010 4:01 am by Anthony Rome
UTEP vs. Arkansas Preview
FAYETTEVILLE, AR – Coming into this season, Arkansas was expected to have success with Ryan Mallett leading one of the best passing attacks in the country.
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While Mallett remains one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, the emergence of sophomore running back Knile Davis that has the Razorbacks eyeing a strong finish.
Before a challenging pair of games to end the season, No. 14 Arkansas will try to keep rolling behind its balanced offense Saturday night against UTEP.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made Arkansas –28 point spread favorites for Saturday’s game against UTEP. Current NCAA Public Betting Information shows that 76% of more than 708 bets for this game have been placed on Arkansas -28.
Mallett broke or tied 16 school records in 2009, including his 3,624 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. The junior is on pace for a similar finish this season with 2,752 yards and 19 TDs so far.
While Mallett passed for at least 300 yards in each of his first five games, Arkansas’ rushers averaged 72 during a three-game stretch in September that included their first two SEC contests.
In five games since, the Razorbacks (7-2) have averaged 149 yards on the ground and gained no fewer than 132 in any game. Their only loss over that span was a wild 65-43 game against No. 2 Auburn on Oct. 16.
Davis has led the way over that stretch with 541 yards after gaining 284 in his first 16 collegiate games and 121 in his first four contests this season.
During his team’s three-game win streak, the sophomore has scored eight of his 13 career touchdowns while averaging 122.7 yards.
“We’re real balanced,” Davis said. “When we’re like that, I don’t think nobody can stop us.”
He had three TDs and 110 yards last week as Arkansas produced a surprising 41-20 rout over then-No. 18 South Carolina, which boasts the conference’s best rushing defense. Mallett also threw for 303 yards and a touchdown.
“We put it all together tonight and we have to keep doing that,” said Mallett, whose team can match last season’s win total with a victory Saturday. “If we were doing that all season then we wouldn’t be in the position we’re in. But we’re progressing every game still.”
Arkansas could use the confidence from a season-high fourth consecutive win heading into their closing stretch. After Saturday’s final game in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks will travel to Mississippi State and face LSU in Little Rock.
Both the Bulldogs and Tigers are currently ranked.
First, Arkansas will try to send UTEP to its 25th consecutive road loss to a ranked team. The Miners have also dropped 46 of 50 such games overall, but beat Houston 58-41 on Oct. 3, 2009 in their previous matchup with a Top 25 club.
UTEP has also dropped all six road contests against SEC schools, totaling six touchdowns.
The Miners, though, head into this matchup bowl eligible for the first time in five years after ending a three-game slide with last week’s 28-14 win over SMU.
Trevor Vittatoe threw three touchdowns, leaving him six shy of 100 for his career. The four-year starter is also 57 yards away from becoming the 15th FBS quarterback to reach 12,000.
Vittatoe’s favorite target is fellow senior Kris Adams, who has 37 catches for 743 yards and 10 touchdowns. Adams has caught a pass in 34 consecutive games, tied for the eighth-longest active streak in the country.
Arkansas won 39-7 in its only previous matchup with UTEP in 1989, and Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino posted a 42-14 victory over the Miners in 2003 while with Louisville.
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