UTSA vs North Texas Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks
UTSA (10-2, 8-0 C-USA) is the defending Conference USA champions and will try to repeat against North Texas (7-5, 6-2). The schools played in the regular season, with UTSA winning 31-27. There were 35 points scored in the final quarter.
The Mean Green come into this title game as underdogs, securing a spot in the championship game after beating Rice, 21-17. They had the same conference record as Western Kentucky, defeated the Hilltopper, 40-13, during the season
Before the Roadrunners’ last game, they were already title-game qualifiers. They finished undefeated in conference play, having erased a 10-point halftime deficit en route to a 34-31 win (last-second field goal).
Let’s check the latest college football odds, stats, injury reports, and college football lines for UTSA vs North Texas. We’ve plenty of NCAA football odds for you to consider.
UTSA vs North Texas Betting Lines
UTSA Offers Air Assault
UTSA’s losses came against opponents who were ranked, both within the first three games of the season. UTSA didn’t go quietly, eventually losing to Houston while tied with Texas at the half.
Senior quarterback Frank Harris has played quite well. The last game against UTEP resulted in 382 passing yards (three touchdowns, no interceptions). It was the first time in four games he eclipsed 300 yards, boosting his confidence ahead of this title game.
Receiving threats have been Joshua Cephus and Zakhari Franklin, each with 75 receptions. They have a combined 1,857 receiving yards (17 touchdowns). The passing game has aided the best-scoring offense in the conference (37.9 points per game), while second in the conference (305.7 passing yards/per game).
Defensively, the Roadrunners have been decent, having surrendered 26.5 points per game. the third-lowest figure in C-USA. They were also third in rush yards allowed/per game.
Scoop on Free Play from the Locker Room
Mean Green Ground Green
Offensively, North Texas should be able to hang with UTSA. The Mean Green averaged 34½ points, third in Conference USA. That’s because the run game is second-best in yards/game.
The backfield is divided between Oscar Adaway III, Ikaika Ragsdale, and Ayo Adeyi. Each of the trio has over 500 yards, Adeyi is leading in yards (690), averaging a robust eight yards per carry. However, due to injury issues, Adaway III and Adeyi are questionable entering Friday’s game. That doesn’t mean North Texas can’t produce. Ragsdale had 17 carries (122 yards, one touchdown) last week.
Quarterback Austin Aune has been solid (3,115 yards, 31 touchdowns, but 11 interceptions). There were seven games under 240 passing yards.
The biggest concerns entering the game are the team’s turnover ratio (-3), as well as the defense. The Mean Green had the third-worst passing defense, which will be challenged Friday.
UTSA vs North Texas Game Injuries
UTSA vs North Texas Head-to-Head
They’ve split the 10 games in their history. UTSA has the latest advantage, winning a close game that was 13-10 heading into the final quarter. UTSA ended with a 31-27 win.
UTSA vs North Texas Game Information
- Game: UTSA (10-2, 8-0 C-USA) vs North Texas (7-5, 6-2)
- Date/Time: Friday, Dec. 2nd, 7:30 p.m. EST
- Location: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
- UTSA vs North Texas Live Stream: ESPN
UTSA vs North Texas Picks & Prediction
Playing in front of its fans, UTSA is the favorite and is taken to prevail, but not easily. As was proven in the first game between these schools, North Texas can compete well with the defending champs.
They each have an offense that can pile on the points, but the significant difference is on defense. The UTSA Roadrunners have a defense that can stifle the rushing of the Mean Green, having limited them to 22 yards earlier in the season. The weakness of the Mean Green is the passing game, a Roadrunner’s strength.
That’s the deciding factor, as UTSA wins, but North Texas can work within the 8½-point spread.
UTSA is listed at -310 in our Vegas lines. This means if you wager $100 on UTSA, you have a chance to win $32.26. North Texas is +256, offering a chance to win $256 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives UTSA a 75.61% chance to win, with North Texas at 28.09%.
