Will Arizona Win Their Season Opener? A Roadrunners Opinion!

With the start of the first Wildcats game only 22 days away, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Roadrunners believe that they can get revenge from last seasons nail bitter.

Do you believe that USTA can prevail? Here are 5 questions for Roadrunner Nation’s ]oel Valdez on why his team has a shot to get bitter-sweet revenge back on our beloved Arizona Wildcats.

1. What is UTSA working on this off-season to try to upset the Wildcats from the nail biter last season? Does UTSA have a chance to win? Revenge? 

Without forgetting the remarkable talent of Scooby Wright III, the Arizona defense needs improvement – having allowed 28.2 points per game last year and returning only half of its defensive starters this year. Luckily, considerable offseason improvements in the Roadrunner offense can be expected to immediately target the Arizona defense in Tuscon. UTSA, like any team in any game, has a chance to win.

Only if the UTSA offense is able to out-pace the Arizona offense can I envision UTSA winning. From what I’ve seen, I cannot picture either one of these defenses completely shutting down the other’s offense from moving the ball. The most likely scenario where UTSA wins then is for both teams to run plays as quickly as they can and to make sure that – no matter what – UTSA has more than 35 points on the board before it’s all over.

Arizona Wildcats

2. How much better is this years UTSA football team than last years squad?

The UTSA Roadrunners will field one of the youngest teams in the FBS in 2015 with just 17 seniors on the roster. Other than what we have seen in open practices, we still know very little about what this almost entirely new team will look like. Perhaps most worrisome, where the Orange & Blue have improved in talent, it’s not as impressive in-depth – which summons familiar 2014 fears of key injuries at the worst possible times.

What appears most likely is that this is a much faster, younger and more talented UTSA Football team all around that may not reveal itself as one behind a much tougher out-of-conference schedule and a general lack of experience at the collegiate level.

Sep 4, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; UTSA Roadrunners wide receiver Kam Jones (1) is unable to catch a pass while defended by Arizona Wildcats safety William Parks (11) during the second half at Alamodome. The Wildcats won 26-23. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

3. Who will be the most improved player this season?

Wide receiver Kenny Bias will be the most improved player this year.There will be many more options on the field for the quarterback this year, but Bias has certainly developed during the offseason and he’ll have to step up as a leader. UTSA’s wide receiver rotation lacked consistency due to injuries at the quarterback position last season that UTSA is not expected to repeat (barring any unforeseeable mishaps). He’ll definitely benefit from a more consistent, faster Roadrunner offense.

4. The UTSA football program is its 4th year in Conference USA. Do they have a chance in winning the conference in the 2015 season? 

In mid-July UTSA was predicted to finish last in the 2015 Conference USA Preseason poll. Some players have voiced their personal disagreement with this. I personally disagree with this. Two summers ago, UTSA was also predicted to finish last in Conference USA during the 2013 season due to a lack of both experience and depth.

The result of that season was a Roadrunner record of 6-2 in conference play, including an unfortunate six point loss to Rice where a win would have sent UTSA to the conference title game. I think the team and the fanbase would agree with me that the Roadrunners already have a history of showing up when others don’t expect it.

Sep 4, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; Azona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon (12) looks to throw against the UTSA Roadrunners during the first half at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

5. Why do you think UTSA will beat Arizona and what do you think the final score will be? 

The same reason the Arizona Wildcats think they’ll beat UTSA: because after last year’s Thursday night in the BirdDome, you know you can. Last year’s match ended 26-23 in favor of the Wildcats which definitely gives hope to the Roadrunner Nation to win its second, away season opener in a row – the Roadrunners having never lost a season opener.

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Last year’s UTSA defense was very good and gave up 26 points to an amazing Arizona offense. Similarly, Arizona’s defense gave up 23 points to a really bad UTSA offense. This year, Arizona returns improved players and UTSA brings in new, more talented players so we can only hope that we see the same kind of down-to-the-wire game last September yielded. Realistically, I think UTSA’s new offense will exploit Arizona’s shortcomings in defense but ultimately lose a shootout to the Wildcats in Tuscon 34-17.

The Roadrunners do have a chance to beat our Wildcats as they almost completed that feat if it were not for a last minute interception.

I am very excited for not only college football to be back but to see our Wildcats try to repeat as PAC-12 South Championship and another shot to make the college football playoffs. I believe the wildcats win 48-24  but it will be tough in the first half for the Wildcats while they work on timing and jelling as a team. Last year they were a second half team, so we all need to hang in there until the last-minute of every game!

One last thought: The Roadrunners hashtag is #Birdsup, but I’m wondering if maybe it should be #MeepMeep?

Thanks ]oel for taking your time to chat with Zona Zealots!