The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (+10) are set to pay a visit to their conference nemesis North Texas Mean Green (-10) at Apogee Stadium. Fans can catch the action live on STAD and this afternoon game is scheduled to get underway at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: North Texas Mean Green vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee is a noticeable road underdog in this CUSA matchup and is currently getting 10 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently have to lay down $400 to win $100 back on the Mean Green (-400). The Blue Raiders are getting +300 moneyline odds. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 57.5 points, and if one side can create a bunch of points early, it’ll probably create a reasonable betting opportunity in-game.
The game’s total has been driven upward after initially being set at 57. The opening spread (-10) has remained consistent.
The Blue Raiders are 2-4 against the spread (ATS) and are down 0.3 units so far. The team’s posted an O/U mark of 4-2.
The disappointing Mean Green have lost 5.3 units this season. The team is 2-4 ATS and also has an O/U record of 4-2.
The Blue Raiders are 2-4 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against CUSA opponents. The Mean Green are 2-4 SU overall and are also 1-1 SU in conference play.
The Blue Raiders will attempt to get back in stride after a 28-13 defeat to Florida Atlantic last week. Asher O’Hara completed 24-of-42 passes for 335 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. O’Hara (57 yards on 17 rush attempts, one TD) also spearheaded the ground attack. Ty Lee (eight receptions, 45 yards) and Jimmy Marshall (four catches, 70 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
A week ago, Southern Miss knocked off this North Texas crew by a score of 45-27. As a group, the team collectively completed 14-of-31 passes for 256 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Mason Fine went 11-for-25 for 217 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while Jason Bean was three-of-six for 39 yards, one touchdown and one interception. DeAndre Torrey (61 rushing yards on 13 attempts) handled the running game while Jaelon Darden (five receptions, 87 yards, three TDs) and Greg White (two catches, 58 yards) led the receiving corps in the loss.
When looking at offensive play-calling, each squad sports a similar (47-53) run-pass ratio on the season. The Blue Raiders have rushed for 131 yards/game (including 132 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have six scores on the ground this year. The Mean Green are putting up 171.7 rushing yards per game (206 in conference) and have six total rush TDs.
It appears that the Mean Green should have the advantage when it comes to RB efficiency, since their backfield has logged 4.9 yards per carry while their defense has allowed a YPC of 4.6 to opponents. The Blue Raiders have registered 4.4 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 5.4 to opponents.
The Blue Raiders offense has logged 255.7 yards per contest in the air overall (298 per game against conference opposition) and has 10 passing scores so far. The Mean Green have put up 267.5 pass yards per contest (234 against CUSA foes) and have 17 total pass TDs.
Middle Tennessee has let opponents run for an average of 237 yards and throw for 257.7 yards per game. The North Texas defense has allowed 227.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 181.2 yards per game on the ground. The Mean Green are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of 7 to opponents, while the Blue Raiders have given up a 7.59 ANY/A.
Offensively, O’Hara has amassed 1,230 passing yards this season. He’s connected on 67 percent of his 153 attempts with nine scores through the air and five interceptions. He’s got a 6.66 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.18 over the last two games.
In the other locker room, Mason Fine has completed 92-of-156 passes for 1,157 yards, 12 TDs and four INTs. Fine’s ANY/A sits at 6.93 for the year and 7.44 over his past two games.
These two conference foes did not get a chance to face each other a year ago.
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at North Texas Mean Green Free Pick
SU Winner: North Texas, ATS Winner: North Texas, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- Middle Tennessee, as a team, has averaged 3.8 yards per rush attempt over its last three outings and 4.0 over its last two.
- North Texas has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over its last three matchups and only 3.5 over its last two.
- North Texas has lost one fumble this season while Middle Tennessee has let two get away.
- North Texas has dropped five of its last six games SU, with a 42-point triumph over UTSA on September 21st accounting for the only win over that span.
- The Blue Raiders offense has created four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Mean Green have accounted for seven such plays.
- The Middle Tennessee defense has allowed four pass plays of 40 or more yards, while North Texas has given up five such plays.
- The Middle Tennessee offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while North Texas has created 13 such runs.
- The Blue Raiders defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Mean Green have given up 11 such runs.
- The North Texas defense has created 15 sacks on the year while Middle Tennessee has just six.
