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FACTS & STATS: Site: Sun Bowl Stadium (51,500) -- El Paso, Texas. Television: TW-El Paso, WITN. Home Record: ECU 2-3, UTEP 2-2. Away Record: ECU 2-1, UTEP 2-3. Neutral Record: ECU 0-1, UTEP 0-0. Conference Record: ECU 3-2, UTEP 1-4. Series Record: East Carolina leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: Conference-USA action will take place this Saturday evening when the Texas-El Paso Miners host the East Carolina Pirates at Sun Bowl Stadium.

The Pirates saw their three-game winning streak come to an end the last time they were in action, as they were defeated by Southern Mississippi, 48-28. The loss dropped East Carolina to 3-2 in conference action.

As for the Miners, they have lost four of their five conference matchups, including back-to-back setbacks to Southern Miss and Rice. The Miners will now return home where the team is 2-2 on the season.

The Pirates have won the two previous matchups against Texas-El Paso, defeating the Miners 45-42 in overtime back in 2007, and once again in 2008 by a margin of 53-21.

The Pirates are averaging a mediocre 25.9 ppg on the season because the offense is severely one-sided. The rushing attack is being held under 100.0 yards per matchup, leaving all the pressure on the shoulders of QB Dominique Davis.

Davis has been able to carry the team more often than not and heads into this game with 2,604 yards and 17 touchdowns, but the signal caller has thrown 13 interceptions as well. Lance Lewis has proven to be a reliable target, as he leads the team with 60 receptions for 600 yards and eight scores.

In the loss to Southern Miss, the offense once again had to rely on the play of Davis, who threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns, while running for another score.

As if carrying the offense is not tough enough for Davis, but the quarterback has also had to pick up a defense that is being clobbered by the opposition. East Carolina is surrendering 33.3 ppg and that is mainly because the unit is being punished for 181.1 ypg and 19 touchdowns on the ground.

The Golden Eagles might have finished with 48 points against ECU, but the majority of damage was caused by Southern Mississippi's defense and special teams. In fact the first three touchdowns for the Golden Eagles came on an interception, a punt return and a blocked punt.

Southern Miss had the ball for less than 25 minutes in the matchup and still managed 299 yards, including 137 yards on the ground. Jeremy Grove was a tackling machine in the loss, as he finished with 13 stops.

The Miners have not been overwhelming offensively, but the team has done enough to average a respectable 28.3 ppg. The majority of the success for this unit has come on the ground, as the team is averaging 154.3 ypg, to go along with 17 rushing touchdowns.

Joe Banyard is leading the way with 550 yards, while Leilyon Myers is pacing the squad with nine touchdowns. The play from the running backs is crucial for UTEP, especially since QB Nick Lamaison has been inconsistent, throwing for just 1,495 yards and 11 touchdowns against nine interceptions.

Surprisingly in the loss to Rice, the Miners were limited on the ground, rumbling for just 98 yards on 21 carries. Lamaison led the way with 294 yards and three touchdowns, but he was also intercepted twice.

Regardless of how much success the offense has, the defense continues to find ways to let go of victories. The biggest problem for this unit has been its inability to stop the run, as opponents are averaging 189.8 ypg and have scored 17 rushing touchdowns in the process.

Rice was able to continue the trend against UTEP, as the Owls rumbled for 222 yards and two touchdowns. However, the Owls also used the air to punish the Miners and finished with 440 yards and three scores via the pass.

TraVaun Nixon led the way in defeat with 11 tackles, while Isaiah Carter added nine stops.

The Miners have been a mess defensively, and with Davis in town that does not bode well for Texas-El Paso. Look for Davis to continue his solid year with another strong performance, leading ECU past the Miners on the road.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: East Carolina 31, Texas-El Paso 27