The UTEP football team heads into its showdown with Texas Tech staring down the barrel of a gun.

A Red Raiders team rarely stopped by anyone in the Big 12 faces a Miners squad that has struggled defensively for a long, long time. UTEP is 0-12 against teams from the Big 12, it hasn't beaten a power conference team in 47 years. UTEP is a three-touchdown underdog.

The Miners are right where they want to be.

"This is so exciting," cornerback Adrian James said. "As a defensive back this is one of the games you dream of playing, going against a passing team, honing coverage skills. We get to show we can cover man, play zone, all the things great defensive backs can do."

This from receiver Jarrad Shaw: "Big game, a big crowd, a Big 12 team, this will be a lot of fun."

All but a few of the players on UTEP's roster weren't considered good enough in high school to be recruited by the Red Raiders and that's one reason they ended up here. The chance to line up against Tech and test themselves is another and Saturday in front of a rowdy home crowd and a national television audience they get that opportunity.

The game begins at 9 p.m. and will be shown on the FoxSports1 channel. There is a 50 percent chance of rain.

Last week, UTEP beat UNM in Albuquerque. Texas Tech struggled to beat Central Arkansas by seven points.

"I don't think they'll have a hard time focusing after this week," Red Raider coach Kliff Kingsbury said of his team.

UTEP's defensive focus begins with the stopping Tech's quick start. Tech looks to run a bunch of plays in a hurry and any chance of slowing them entails getting everyone situated on defense.

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UTEP football: High-powered Red Raiders offense will be huge test for Miners