The North Texas Mean Green (-3.5) are heading northeast to face their conference nemesis Charlotte 49ers at Jerry Richardson Stadium. The Saturday afternoon game will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to ESPN+.
Betting Preview: Charlotte 49ers vs. North Texas Mean Green
Charlotte is entering this CUSA game as the underdog and is currently being given 3.5 points. The Mean Green are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the 49ers are +155. There should be multiple good in-game betting opportunities for this showdown, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 65 points.
This game’s O/U was initially set at 64, but the over is receiving the majority of the early sharp action.
The Mean Green have lost 4.3 units so far in 2019 and are 2-5 against the spread (ATS). The team’s recorded an Over-Under mark of 5-2.
The 49ers have lost 3.0 units this season. The team is 2-5 ATS and owns an O/U record of 6-1.
The Mean Green have gone 3-4 straight up (SU), including 2-1 SU against conference opponents. The 49ers are 2-5 SU overall and 0-3 SU in conference play.
The Mean Green are coming off a 33-30 victory over Middle Tennessee last week where Mason Fine completed 33 passes on 45 attempts for 375 yards, one score and two interceptions. Loren Easly (99 rushing yards on 19 attempts) led the ground attack while Jaelon Darden (13 receptions, 125 yards, one TD) and Michael Lawrence (four catches, 55 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Charlotte just fell 30-14 to Western Kentucky. Chris Reynolds completed 15-of-29 passes for 200 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Benny LeMay (45 yards on 15 rush attempts) and the signal-caller Reynolds (37 yards on 14 carries) led the running game while Victor Tucker (six receptions, 113 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
North Texas has run the ball on 47 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 51.4 percent across possessions in conference play. Charlotte has an overall run percentage of 60.2 percent, and has rushed the ball 55.1 percent of the time against CUSA opponents. The Mean Green have run for 166 yards per game (including 181.3 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have seven touchdowns on the ground this year. The Niners are putting up 199.7 rush yards per game (118.3 in conference) and have 14 total rushing TDs.
The Mean Green offensive scheme has logged 282.9 yards per game through the air overall (280.7 per game against conference opposition) and has 18 passing scores so far. The Niners have produced 191 pass yards per contest (199 against CUSA competition) and have 14 total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, North Texas has allowed 180.7 rush yards and 231.7 pass yards per game. The Charlotte defense has given up 196 yards per game to opposing passers and 207.3 yards per game on the ground. The Mean Green are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.54 to opposing QBs, while the Niners have given up a 7.35 ANY/A.
Reynolds has managed to complete 80-of-136 passes for 1,038 yards, 11 TDs and six INTs for Charlotte. His adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 6.32 for the season and 7.15 over his last two outings. In the other locker room, Fine has amassed 1,668 passing yards this year. He’s completed 149-of-231 attempts with 12 passing touchdowns and five interceptions. Fine’s got a 6.70 ANY/A, including 7.48 over the last two outings.
These two CUSA foes did not get a chance to play each other in 2018.
North Texas Mean Green vs. Charlotte 49ers Bedding Prediction
SU Winner: Charlotte, ATS Winner: Charlotte, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Charlotte defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 23 times this year. North Texas has registered just 16 sacks.
- Both offenses have lost two fumbles this season.
- The Mean Green offense has recorded seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the 49ers have put up four such plays.
- The North Texas defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Charlotte has given up seven such plays.
- The North Texas offense has created 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Charlotte has created 12 such runs.
- The Mean Green defense has allowed 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the 49ers have given up 12 such runs.
- Charlotte has dropped six of its last seven games SU, with a 35-point win over Massachusetts on September 14th accounting for the one victory over that stretch.
- As a team, North Texas has produced 3.7 yards per carry across its past three outings and 3.9 over its last two.
- Charlotte has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.3 over its last two.
