RUSTON - Through its first five games of the season, Louisiana Tech (2-3, 0-2 WAC) has yet to play a complete game on both sides of the football for 60 minutes.

That's exactly what head coach Jack Bicknell and the Bulldogs are expecting Saturday when Tech visits UTEP (2-4, 1-1) at the Sun Bowl in an 8 p.m. CST kickoff.

"We just haven't been consistent," Bicknell said. "For most of the season our defense has carried us while the offense has struggled. Last week (against Boise State) our offense played well but we didn't stop them defensively. As a football team, we have to play well for 60 minutes in all three phases of the game, including special teams."

Look no further than the Bulldogs last two games to see examples of Bicknell's statement. Three weekends ago, the Bulldogs defense played well, holding Fresno State to only one touchdown and three field goals in a tough environment in California. However, Tech's offense sputtered for most of the game as the Bulldogs lost 16-6.

Last weekend in Ruston, the Bulldogs offense came to life with 37 points and over 500 yards of total offense; however, defensively, Tech allowed 43 points and a school record 732 yards of offense. Not the consistency or results Bicknell wants.

"I truly believe we have a good football team," Bicknell said. "We are so close to being 4-1 overall on the season and undefeated in the WAC, but instead, we've suffered through two tough losses. That's college football. Fresno State and Boise State simply made a few more plays than we did the last two games."

The Bulldog offense hopes to keep it's the momentum it built last week against Boise State going as it faces struggling UTEP defense that ranks towards the bottom of the WAC in a number of statistical categories. Tech expects the Miners, who have won two straight, to load up the box and play man to man on the Bulldogs receivers.

"That's what they've done the last two years," said Tech offensive coordinator Conroy Hines. "We did have some success running against them because of how strong Joe Smith was ... he broke tackles and had big days. However, most of the time against this type of scheme, your receivers have to be better than their corners. Luke (McCown) and our receivers will have to make plays."

The contest will be homecoming for UTEP which is only 31-39-1 all-time in homecoming games, although the Miners have won four of their last five homecoming games. Miners head coach Gary Nord will also be looking for his first win over Louisiana Tech, one of only two WAC schools he has never beaten.

Tech leads the all-time series against UTEP 5-1-1, winning last year's game in Shreveport 38-24 and the 2001 game in El Paso 53-30.

The game can be heard live over the Louisiana Tech Sports Network on the flagship station KXKZ-FM 107.5, KYLA-FM (Shreveport), KEZP-FM (Alexandria), KWCL-FM (Oak Grove), KEZM-AM (Lake Charles), WSKR-AM (Baton Rouge) and WSLA-AM (New Orleans) and via the Internet at www.z1075fm.com.

Series
UTEP 27, Tech 0 1939
Tech 19, UTEP 7 1940
Tech 0, UTEP 0 1941
Tech 20, UTEP 0 1942
Tech 21, UTEP 17 1991
Tech 53, UTEP 30 2001
Tech 38, UTEP 24 2002