The Mean Green of North Texas (-2) are set to welcome their conference counterpart UAB Blazers to Apogee Stadium. STAD will televise the action and this afternoon matchup is scheduled to get going at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: UAB Blazers vs. North Texas Mean Green
This Saturday CUSA pairing shows the Blazers as the underdogs and they’re currently being given 2 points. The Blazers are also receiving +100 moneyline odds while the Mean Green are -120. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 51.5 points, and if one team gets out in front in the early stages, it would likely create a worthy betting opportunity in-game.
The Blazers have gained 3.5 units this season and are 6-4-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an Over-Under record of 5-6.
The Mean Green have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors so far, losing 10.2 units. The team is 3-8 ATS and the over’s hit in seven of its games.
The Blazers have gone 8-3 straight up (SU), including 5-2 SU against CUSA opponents. The Mean Green are 4-7 SU overall and 3-4 SU in conference play.
North Texas comes into this contest on a zero-game winning streak while UAB has lost zero straight. The Blazers got their second W in as many tries after a 20-14 win over Louisiana Tech last week where Dylan Hopkins completed just 11 passes on 21 attempts for 185 yards, as well as a TD and an interception. Lucious Stanley (61 rushing yards on 13 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Hopkins (35 yards on 12 carries) led the ground attack in the win. Myron Mitchell (four receptions, 81 yards) and Austin Watkins (three catches, 75 yards) handled the receiving duties.
North Texas most recently dropped a 20-14 game to Rice. The team’s defense allowed the Owls to eat up the clock by rushing for 122 yards on 43 attempts, including two rush TDs. Austin Trammell had a solid outing in the win for Rice, recording 91 yards on seven catches. For North Texas, Mason Fine completed 17-of-32 passes for 163 yards and one interception. Tre Siggers (38 yards on 12 rush attempts, one TD) handled the ground attack in the defeat as Greg White (three receptions, 42 yards) and Michael Lawrence (three catches, 38 yards) led the pass-catching attack.
UAB’s run the ball on 61.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while North Texas has a rush percentage of 46.2 percent. The Blazers have run for 157.2 yards per game (including 172.3 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have 14 scores via handoffs this year. The Mean Green are logging 145.5 rush yards per game (140.3 in conference) and have 10 total rushing TDs.
The Blazers offensive scheme has logged 211.2 yards per game in the air overall (200.4 per game against conference opposition) and has 18 passing scores so far. The Mean Green have produced 284.9 pass yards per game (285 in the CUSA) and have 31 total pass TDs.
Defensively, UAB seems to have the upper hand in both phases. The team has allowed 98.8 rush yards and 169.3 pass yards per game. The North Texas defense has given up 232.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 187.3 yards per game to opposing runners. The Blazers are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.93 to opponents, while the Mean Green have given up a 6.46 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Hopkins is up to 326 yards this season. He’s completed 52 percent of his 56 attempts with two scores through the air and four interceptions. He has a 2.63 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 8.50 over the past two outings.
In the home locker room, Mason Fine has completed 227-of-365 passes for 2,774 yards, 27 TDs and seven INTs. Fine’s ANY/A sits at 7.52 for the year and 2.67 over his last two games.
These two schools faced off last year with the final outcome being a 29-21 win for UAB.
UAB Blazers vs. North Texas Mean Green NCAA Pick
SU Winner: UAB, ATS Winner: UAB, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The UAB D has sacked opposing QBs 36 times this year. North Texas has registered just 27 sacks.
- The North Texas offense has lost seven fumbles this season while the UAB offense has lost five.
- The Blazers offense has produced 12 pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Mean Green have put up 13 such plays.
- The UAB defense has allowed six pass plays of 40 or more yards, while North Texas has given up seven such plays.
- The UAB offense has created nine rushing plays of 20+ yards, while North Texas has created 18 such runs.
- The Blazers defense has allowed 11 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Mean Green have given up 23 such runs.
- The O/U for North Texas’ last outing going into it was 55. The under cashed in that 20-14 loss to Rice.
- Over its last three contests, North Texas is 1-2 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three games, UAB is 1-1-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- North Texas has lost four of its last five games SU, with a 26-point victory over UTEP on November 2nd accounting for its lone win over that span.
- The Over/Under for UAB’s last game going into it was 44.5. The under cashed in the team’s 20-14 victory over Louisiana Tech.
- UAB, as a team, has produced 4.7 yards per carry across its past three games and 5.6 over its last two.
- North Texas has averaged 3.5 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.1 over its past two.