This is an 8* ROUT on Northwestern.

Northwestern underwhelmed last week, but I expect it to pull away for the comfortable win and cover here at home in Week 2.

UTEP bounced back from a Week 0 loss to beat Incarnate Word by a score of 28-14 last week, but an immediate return to mediocrity seems imminent in my opinion. The Miners have still lost 13 of their last 14 road games in September.

The Wildcats were stifled 24-7 at Rutgers, but I expect this offense to bounce back. Ben Bryant had 169 yards and two INT's, facing a better than advertised defense. Defensively though the Wildcats looked stout I though and I think the unit wil be a difference-maker in this one.

After 12 straight losses dating to last year, I expect NORTHWESTERN to finally step up here and deliver at home.

Lay the points, the play is NORTHWESTERN.

Good luck, NP