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FACTS & STATS: Site: Sun Bowl Stadium (52,000) -- El Paso, Texas. Television: CBSCSN. Home Record: Buffalo 0-0, UTEP 0-0. Away Record: Buffalo 0-0, UTEP 0-0. Neutral Record: Buffalo 0-0, UTEP 0-0. Conference Record: Buffalo 0-0, UTEP 0-0. Series Record: Buffalo leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: The Buffalo Bulls head to Sun Bowl Stadium to take on the Texas-El Paso Miners in a non-league bout to kickoff the 2009 season.

UTEP is coming off a disappointing 5-7 campaign, the school's third straight losing season. However, with several key components returning from one of the nation's top passing attacks, the Miners could be poised for big things offensively. Those players are looking forward to playing on the school's new $500,000 Matrix 46 playing surface.

Buffalo is coming off its first-ever MAC championship and first bowl appearance. Still, the team's fortunes took a huge blow last week when a labral tear was discovered in the shoulder of fifth-year senior tailback James Starks, who is now lost for the season and out of eligibility. Starks is the school's all-time leader in rushing yards (3,140 yards), touchdowns (34) and points (222).

The Bulls turned heads with a 42-17 trouncing of UTEP in last year's season opener. It was the only previous meeting between the two teams.

In 12 games last year, Starks amassed 1,333 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. He averaged 111.1 ypg on the ground and also ranked second on the team with 52 catches. Obviously, that kind of production is not easily replaced even at recruiting rich programs like USC and Ohio State, let alone Buffalo. Starks' injury will likely put more of an onus on star wideout Naaman Roosevelt to carry the offense. Roosevelt, a Biletnikoff Award candidate, is coming off a season in which he set single-season school records in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,402) and receiving touchdowns (13). He ranks second in the UB career record books in all three categories. Roosevelt willed the Bulls to an upset victory over 12th-ranked Ball State in the MAC Championship last season with three TD grabs. Although quarterback Drew Willy has moved on, head coach Turner Gill has a lot of faith in sophomore signal-caller Zach Maryland, who also happens to be lightning fast.

The Bulls return eight starters on defense, including three All-MAC performers. At the team's media day a few weeks ago, coach Gill tabbed this unit the best defense he has had since taking over at UB four years ago. That statement needs to be kept in perspective, considering UB gave up 37 ppg last season. One of the reasons for coach Gill's optimism is junior safety Davonte Shannon, a two-time All-MAC first-team selection. Shannon is the type of safety that likes to get his nose dirty, as evidenced by his back-to-back 100-tackle seasons. He is joined by fellow All-MAC pick Mike Newton to form what is widely considered the top safety tandem in the MAC. Newton has 10 career interceptions. Junior Justin Winters heads the linebacking corps after bursting onto the scene with a team-high 125 tackles.

UTEP averaged more than 400 total yards and 33 ppg last season on the strength of its passing attack. Once again guiding that aerial assault will be quarterback Trevor Vittatoe, who amassed 3,274 passing yards in '08. Perhaps just as impressive as his school-record 33 passing touchdowns is the fact that Vittatoe threw just nine interceptions as a sophomore. Defenses across Conference USA won't be happy that UTEP returns its top two wideouts either in Kris Adams (50 rec, 958 yds, 14 TDs) and Jeff Moturi (51-655-9). Coach Price will split the running duties between speedster Donald Buckram and bruiser Jason Williams.

The Miners' defense is another story. This unit struggled to adapt to a new 3-3-5 scheme last season, finishing 115th nationally in total defense. Coach Price believes his secondary is seasoned enough to really turn the corner this year. Safety Braxton Amy, who in 2007 recorded a team-high 112 tackles to go along with three picks, is back from an ACL injury that cost him all of last season. Price had high praise for safety Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith and cornerback Cornelius Brown at his weekly press conference. There is a good bit of depth along the defensive line, but at linebacker the team must replace leading tackler Adam Vincent. Sophomores Greg Holleman and Royzell Smith could get a look.

The Bulls were the preseason favorites to win the MAC East, but with a new quarterback and three new starters on the offensive line, and now the loss of Starks, suddenly those hopes don't seem so bright. Still, don't count them out just yet. As UTEP head coach Mike Price pointed out during his weekly press conference, Starks' backup, Brandon Thermilus ran for over 100 yards against the Miners in their meeting last season.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas-El Paso 35, Buffalo 27