The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and North Texas Mean Green will do battle on the turf of Apogee Stadium. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and beIN Sports is scheduled to broadcast the action.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs vs. North Texas Mean Green Betting Preview
Louisiana Tech is a live dog and is currently getting 8 points in this Saturday CUSA game. The Bulldogs are also receiving +260 moneyline odds while the Mean Green are -340. Based on how things are shaping up, there should be multiple good live betting opportunities for this game.
The game’s line opened at -7, but the early action has been shifting to the Mean Green.
The Bulldogs are 2-1 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 0.0 units so far. The team has posted an Over-Under record of 3-0. The Mean Green have been a nice surprise for moneyline bettors this season, gaining 3.8 units. They’re 3-1 ATS and have an O/U record of 0-4.
The Bulldogs are 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 lost to LSU 38-21 in a thumping where their defense allowed the Tigers to eat up the clock by rushing for 218 yards on 48 attempts, including five rush TDs. Clyde Edwards-Helaire had a productive day for the opposition in that one with 136 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 20 attempts. On the offensive side, J’mar Smith completed only 27-of-50 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Israel Tucker (only 22 rushing yards on nine attempts) led the running attack while Adrian Hardy (10 receptions, 181 yards, two TDs) and Teddy Veal (four catches, 39 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
North Texas just picked up a 47-7 win over Liberty. The defense allowed the Flames to rush for 122 yards on 42 attempts. Frankie Hickson was a bright spot in the loss, recording 96 rushing yards on 21 attempts for Liberty. For North Texas, Mason Fine completed 16-of-27 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Loren Easly (177 rushing yards on 27 attempts, two TDs) and DeAndre Torrey (51 yards on eight carries, one TD) spearheaded the running game while Jaelon Darden (four receptions, 65 yards, one TD) and Jalen Guyton (four catches, 34 yards) led the receiving corps in the win.
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 rushed for 168 yards per game and have six touchdowns on the ground this year. The Mean Green are logging 166 rush yards per game and have 10 total rushing TDs.
The Bulldogs offensive scheme has logged 322 yards per game in the air overall and has eight passing TDs so far. The Mean Green have recorded 345 pass yards per outing and have 10 total pass scores.
Defensively, Louisiana Tech appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has allowed opponents to run for an average of 168 yards and pass for 166 yards per game. The North Texas defense has allowed 209.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 99.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Mean Green are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 2.25 to opponents, while the Bulldogs have allowed a 4.70 ANY/A.
Offensively, Smith is up to 539 passing yards on the year, and has completed 46-of-79 attempts with five scores through the air and four interceptions. Smith’s got a 5.15 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 8.36 over the past two outings.
Adrian Hardy (254 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns on the year), Jaqwis Dancy (175 rush yards, two rush TDs, 23 receiving yards) and Rhashid Bonnette (68 receiving yards) have each played big roles lately.
Mason Fine has connected on 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 year and 6.89 over his last two outings.
We’re thinking the Mean Green will control tempo by pounding the defense with 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 delivered significant production to the Mean Green’s recent offensive strategies.
These two programs met last year with the final outcome being a 24-23 victory for North Texas.
Free Pick: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at North Texas Mean Green
SU Winner – North Texas, ATS Winner – North Texas
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The North Texas defensive unit has registered 14 sacks on the year while Louisiana Tech has just eight.
The North Texas offense has lost one fumble in 2018 while Louisiana Tech has let two get away.
Each team has produced three pass plays of 40 yards or more. 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 allowed zero pass plays 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 yards or more, while North Texas has created five such runs.
Both teams have allowed three rushing plays of 20+ yards and 13 running plays of 10+ yards.
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.
In its last three games, Louisiana Tech is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
Louisiana Tech was favored by 19 points in its last game and the O/U was 51. The over cashed and Louisiana Tech did not cover in the 38-21 defeat to LSU.
Louisiana Tech has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last two games.
North Texas has averaged 5.8 yards per carry over its last two.
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