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FACTS & STATS: Site: Aggie Memorial Stadium (30,343) -- Las Cruces, New Mexico. Television: AggieVision. Home Record: UTEP 0-0, NMSU 1-1. Away Record: UTEP 0-0, NMSU 0-0. Neutral Record: UTEP 0-0, NMSU 0-0. Conference Record: UTEP 0-0, NMSU 0-1. Series Record: UTEP leads, 49-35-2.

GAME NOTES: Still searching for their first win of the new season the Texas-El Paso Miners will travel to Las Cruces to battle the New Mexico State Aggies this Saturday night in the "Battle of I-10" at Aggie Memorial Stadium.

The Miners have been unable to secure a victory after opening the year with back- to-back matchups at home. UTEP began the season with a tough, 23-17 loss to Buffalo, and followed that with a 34-7 loss to nationally-ranked Kansas. Over the past three seasons the Miners have had issues on the road, posting a mere 5-13 mark as the visitors. It will not get any easier for UTEP next week as the team will remain on the road to face the Texas Longhorns.

As for the Aggies, they collected a thrilling, 21-18 victory over Prairie View A&M on Saturday. It was the first win of 2009 for New Mexico State, which opened the season with a 21-6 setback to Idaho in a Western Athletic Conference showdown. Hopefully the Aggies can perform better at home after posting a meager 1-5 ledger at Aggie Stadium in 2008.

The Miners hold a 49-35-2 edge over NMSU in the all-time series, but the Aggies have won the last two matchups, including a 34-33 decision in El Paso last year. The Aggies are 19-15-1 at home against UTEP, and that could improve since the home team has won 10 of the last 12 meetings in this series.

The Miners did not find the scoreboard until the fourth quarter in their matchup against Kansas, and by then it was far too late, as UTEP suffered a 27-point loss. The Miners finished with just 208 total yards in the setback and that led to only seven first downs. The Miners tallied just four rushing yards against Kansas, and after two contests UTEP is producing a meager 71.5 ypg on the ground. Surprisingly though, quarterback Trevor Vittatoe was also inconsistent in the loss, throwing for just 187 yards and one touchdown on 14- of-25 passing. The signal caller also threw and interception and was sacked six times. Vittatoe, who threw 33 touchdowns in 2008, has struggled a bit to start the new year, completing just 58.6 percent of his passes for 420 yards and one touchdown.

While the offensive play has been inconsistent, the defensive struggles have been worse, especially in the loss to Kansas, as the Miners allowed a whopping 576 total yards. UTEP was unable to stop the pass or run in the contest, allowing 321 yards through the air, and another 255 yards on the ground. The more pressing issue out of the two is the team's inability to stop the run, as opponents are averaging 202.5 ypg on the ground. The Miners were able to force two turnovers in the loss to Kansas, but finished with just one sack and allowed the Jayhawks to convert on 9-of-18 third down attempts. Although the defense has struggled overall, there have been a few bright spots for this unit, but none more important that the performance of Da'mon Cromartie-Smith, who racked up 15 tackles in the loss, and now has an amazing 34 stops in just two games.

The Aggies literally ran through Prairie View A&M on Saturday, needing 241 rushing yards to earn a three-point win. Two games into the new campaign and it is apparent that New Mexico State will rely heavily on the run, averaging 172.5 yards per matchup on 4.1 ypc. Seth Smith, who rushed for only 17 yards in the opener, led the charge in the win over Prairie View A&M, scampering for 150 yards on 25 carries, while Marquell Colston added 66 yards and one touchdown on just nine attempts. Quarterback Jeff Fleming only threw for 63 yards in the contest, but did score two rushing touchdowns. Fleming has been inconsistent with his arm this year, completing just 54.7 percent of his throws for 293 yards and has yet to toss a touchdown pass, but has thrown two interceptions.

Not to be overlooked was the defense for New Mexico State, which limited Prairie View A&M to just 281 total yards. However, the unit did have some issues against the run, allowing 146 rushing yards on 4.6 yards per attempt. After two games the Aggies have shown cracks up front, as opponents have punished this defense for 158.5 yards per matchup on the ground. Fortunately New Mexico State did the little things that matter in the recent victory, as the team forced two turnovers, while also collecting three sacks. Stephon Hatchett collected nine tackles and forced one fumble, while Ross Conner and Jason Scott both tallied nine stops apiece in the win.

The Aggies have won the last two meetings with UTEP and although they will be home for this one, look for the Miners to leave Las Cruces with their first victory of 2009.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Texas-El Paso 31, New Mexico State 24