A rare Thursday night contest will begin Week 10 play in Conference USA with the Miners taking on in state foe Rice.

Saturday's quartet of games starts off with the Hilltoppers making he short trip to Charlotte to take on a 49er unit that is coming off a season best showing on offense.

In the west, the Blazers will return home to take on the division leading Roadrunners and the Panthers.

In a cross divisional meetings the Panthers are three score underdogs as they head west to try and take down a hot Mean Green squad, and the Blue Raiders will head to Ruston as slim favorites to take on the Bulldogs.

Florida Atlantic will be in their second bye week of the season.

Below is the full slate for the week.


BYE WEEK

FAU


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3

UTEP at Rice (CBSSN) 7 pm


SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5

WKU at Charlotte (CBSSN) 12 pm

Middle Tennessee at LA Tech (ESPN+) 3 pm

UTSA at UAB (Stadium) 3:30 pm

FIU at North Texas (ESPN+) 4 pm

This is how I see it:

UTEP at Rice (CBSSN) 7 pm
WKU at Charlotte (CBSSN) 12 pm
Middle Tennessee at LA Tech (ESPN+) 3 pm
UTSA at UAB (Stadium) 3:30 pm
FIU at North Texas (ESPN+) 4 pm

Taking both UAB and LA Tech in upsets.

Miners and Owls have completed a quarter.

UTEP strikes first but Rice responds with two straight drives to lead 10-7.

Halftime in Houston:

Rice up 20-17 in what most thought wouldn't be a high scoring affair (47 PTS). That might change in the 2nd half, but we'll see.

Offense does slow a bit for both sides, but the Owls take a 27-20 edge into the final period.

At 4-4 with three likely losses remaining (WKU, UTSA, North Texas) they are in serious need of the win to have any hope of making the coveted 6-6 mark.

The Miners are in the same boat, but do have FIU at home as a "cushion". However UTSA on the road is all but a loss as well.

UTEP QB Hardison has been knocked out of the game with a right ankle injury but they just scored the game tying touchdown courtesy of a 24 yard run from the back-up.

Rice defense looks tired.

Will likely go down to the wire.

Yep, all tied up 30-30 with 2:35 to play.

Other Owls will have the ball after a Miner score.

This game is significant as teams at 6-6 are NOT going to be in the top of the pecking order for the leagues' guaranteed spots.

If Rice loses, they will likely not hit the mark.

FAU needs teams to fail to meet the requirements, but Rice losing would not be the best scenario as they have a head to head advantage - not that it truly matters in selections.

Rice enters FG territory with a 1st down and :40 to play.

Barring a poor kick, they should win the game.