The Florida Atlantic Owls (+3) are set to pay a visit to the North Texas Mean Green (-3) at Apogee Stadium. This showdown will kick off fairly late for fans on the East Coast (9:30 p.m. ET) and CBS Sports Network is scheduled to have the TV rights.
Florida Atlantic Owls at North Texas Mean Green Betting Preview
In this Thursday Conference USA game, North Texas is projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 3 points. The Owls are also receiving +135 moneyline odds while the Mean Green are -155. Should one side can create a bunch of points early on it will produce a reasonable live betting opportunity. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 61.5 points.
The line opened at -3. The game’s total hasn’t changed since it opened at 61.5.
The Owls are down 2.7 units so far in 2018 and 3-7 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 5-4. The Mean Green have been a disappointment to moneyline bettors this season, losing 8.9 units. The team is 4-6 ATS and has an O/U record of 0-10.
The Owls have gone 5-5 straight up (SU), including 3-3 SU against CUSA opponents. The Mean Green are 7-3 SU overall and are also 3-3 SU in conference play.
The Owls are coming off a resounding 34-15 victory over Western Kentucky last week where Chris Robison completed 17 passes on 21 attempts for 231 yards. Devin Singletary (148 rushing yards on 22 attempts, two TDs) and Kerrith Whyte, Jr. (163 yards on 21 carries, two TDs) led the ground attack while Jovon Durante (seven receptions, 79 yards) and Willie Wright (five catches, 41 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
One week ago, Old Dominion took care of this North Texas team by a score of 34-31. The Mean Green defensive secondary allowed the Monarchs to air it out for 301 yards and two touchdowns. Travis Fulgham was on a different level for Old Dominion, recording 155 yards on eight catches. For North Texas, Mason Fine completed 26-of-44 passes for 240 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. DeAndre Torrey (145 yards on 25 rush attempts, two TDs) mounted the running attack as Rico Bussey, Jr. (six receptions, 82 yards, two TDs) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Florida Atlantic has run the ball on 61.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while North Texas has a rush percentage of 46.8 percent. The Owls have run for 252 yards per game (including 273 per game against Conference USA opponents) and have 31 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Mean Green are averaging 148 rushing yards per game (136 in conference) and have 20 total rush TDs.
The Owls offense has averaged 225 yards in the air overall (212 per game against conference opposition) and has 10 passing TDs so far. The Mean Green have produced 317 pass yards per outing (298.5 in the CUSA) and have 23 total pass scores.
On the defensive side of the ball, Florida Atlantic has allowed 170 rush yards and 245 pass yards per game. The North Texas D has allowed 239.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 103.5 yards per game on the ground. The Mean Green are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.56 to opponents, while the Owls have allowed a 6.89 ANY/A.
Offensively, Robison has put up 1,876 passing yards this year, and has connected on 64 percent of his 237 attempts with eight passing scores and 10 interceptions. He’s got a 6.26 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 9.27 over the last two outings.
Mason Fine has completed 229-of-353 passes for 2,786 yards, 21 TDs and two INTs for North Texas. His ANY/A stands at 8.09 for the season and 6.55 over his past two outings.
RELATED: Week 12 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Free Pick: Florida Atlantic Owls at North Texas Mean Green
SU Winner – North Texas, ATS Winner – North Texas, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Owls offense has recorded seven pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Mean Green have put up nine such plays.
The Florida Atlantic defense has allowed six pass plays of 40+ yards, while North Texas has given up 10 such plays.
The Florida Atlantic offense has created 25 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while North Texas has created 12 such runs.
Both teams have allowed 11 rushing plays of 20 yards or more. The Owls have given up 49 running plays of 10+ yards while the Mean Green have given up 32 such plays.
The North Texas defense has tallied 30 sacks on the year while Florida Atlantic has just 17.
As a team, Florida Atlantic has averaged 6.3 yards per carry over its past three outings and 6.4 over its last two.
North Texas has averaged 4.5 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 5.1 over its past two.
In its last three matches, North Texas is 0-3 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Florida Atlantic’s previous game was set at 60. The under cashed in the team’s 34-15 win over Western Kentucky.
In its last three games, Florida Atlantic is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for North Texas’ previous matchup was set at 67.5. The under cashed in the 34-31 defeat to Old Dominion.
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