The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (+8) are set to pay a visit to their CUSA rival North Texas Mean Green (-8) at Apogee Stadium. beIN Sports is scheduled to televise the action and kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at North Texas Mean Green
Louisiana Tech is a significant road underdog in this CUSA game and is currently being given 8 points. The Bulldogs are also receiving +260 moneyline odds while the Mean Green are -340. Multiple solid in-game betting scenarios could exist during the contest.
This game’s opening line was initially set at -7 and the sharp action has been siding with the Mean Green.
The Bulldogs have gained 0.0 units so far and are 2-1 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 3-0.
The surprising Mean Green have gained 3.8 units this season. The team is 3-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 0-4.
The Bulldogs have gone 2-1 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any CUSA competition yet. The Mean Green are 4-0 SU overall and are also 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Bulldogs hope to get back in stride after a 38-21 defeat to LSU last week where J’mar Smith completed just 27-of-50 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Israel Tucker (just 22 rushing yards on nine attempts) propelled the ground attack while Adrian Hardy (10 receptions, 181 yards, two TDs) and Teddy Veal (four catches, 39 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
The North Texas Mean Green take the field on Saturday after just earning a lopsided 47-7 win over Liberty. The team’s defensive unit allowed the Flames to run for 122 yards on 42 rush attempts. Frankie Hickson was a bright spot in the defeat for Liberty, posting 96 rushing yards on 21 attempts. For North Texas, Mason Fine completed 16-of-27 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Loren Easly (177 yards on 27 rush attempts, two TDs) and DeAndre Torrey (51 yards on eight carries, one TD) handled the running game as Jaelon Darden (four receptions, 65 yards, one TD) and Jalen Guyton (four catches, 34 yards) led the receiving attack in the win.
Looking at offensive play-calling, each of these squads sports a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Louisiana Tech’s run the ball on 46.9 percent of its offensive possessions while North Texas has a rush percentage of 48.2. The Bulldogs have run for 168.0 yards/game and have six scores on the ground this year. The Mean Green are logging 165.5 rush yards per game and have 10 total rushing TDs.
The Bulldogs offense has tallied 322.0 yards per contest through the air overall and has eight passing scores so far. The Mean Green have put up 345.3 pass yards per outing and have 10 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Louisiana Tech appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 168.3 yards and pass for 166.0 yards per game. The North Texas defense has allowed 209.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 99.0 yards per game on the ground. The Mean Green are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 2.25 to opposing QBs, while the Bulldogs have allowed a 4.70 ANY/A.
Offensively, Smith has put up 539 passing yards this year. He’s completed 58 percent of his 79 attempts with five scores through the air and four interceptions. He’s got a 5.15 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 8.36 over the past two games.
Adrian Hardy, Jaqwis Dancy and Rhashid Bonnette have combined for 539 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns as a trio over the last couple of outings.
Mason Fine has managed to complete 81-of-117 passes for 1,047 yards, nine TDs and one INT for North Texas. His ANY/A stands at 9.64 for the season and 6.89 over his last two games.
We’re looking for the Mean Green to control tempo by putting the ball in the hands of their running backs. Along with WR Jaelon Darden (156 receiving yards, one receiving TD this season), Loren Easly (208 rush yards, two rush TDs) and DeAndre Torrey (101 rush yards, four rush TDs) have been significant factors in the North Texas offense.
When these two programs faced each other last year, North Texas earned the win 24-23.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at North Texas Mean Green Betting Pick
SU Winner: North Texas, ATS Winner: North Texas
Team Betting Trends
- Louisiana Tech was favored by 19 points in its previous game and the O/U was set at 51. The over cashed and Louisiana Tech failed to cover in the 38-21 loss to LSU.
- Louisiana Tech has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last two matchups.
- North Texas has averaged 5.8 YPC over its last two.
- North Texas has lost one fumble this season while Louisiana Tech has let two get away.
- In its last three games, Louisiana Tech is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- North Texas was getting 12 points in its last match and the O/U going into it was 66.5. The under cashed and North Texas covered in the 47-7 win over Liberty.
- Over its last three contests, North Texas is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
- Both teams have produced three pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Bulldogs have have made 10 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Mean Green have accounted for 12 such plays.
- The Louisiana Tech defense has yet to allow a passing play of 40 yards or more, while North Texas has given up two such plays.
- The Louisiana Tech offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while North Texas has created five such runs.
- Both defenses have allowed three rushing plays of 20 or more yards and 13 running plays of 10+ yards.
- The North Texas defense has registered 14 sacks on the year while Louisiana Tech has just eight.
