The North Texas Mean Green (14-15, 7-9 CUSA) will attempt to put an end to their five-game losing streak when they go head-to-head with the UTSA Roadrunners (17-12, 10-6 CUSA) at The Super Pit. The game begins at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 1, 2018.
The Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 148.5 points with North Texas opening as a 4.5-point favorite.
UTSA Roadrunners vs. North Texas Mean Green ATS Prediction
The last time the Roadrunners played, they beat the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs, 74-64. UTSA had an effective field goal percentage of 0.575 (above their season average of 0.515). Louisiana Tech, meanwhile, had a free throw rate of 0.328 (above their season average of 0.273). Byron Frohnen played a pivotal role for UTSA with 10 points and nine rebounds.
The Mean Green lost big to the Florida Atlantic Owls in their last matchup, 74-54. Making free throws was one of Florida Atlantic’s largest strengths. They were 18-22 (81.8 percent), while the Mean Green were just 8-16 (50.0 percent). With 12 points on 5-for-15 shooting, A.J. Lawson led North Texas in scoring.
It will be a battle of contrasting tempos as the fast-paced Roadrunners will look to push the more methodical Mean Green. The Roadrunners rank 26th in possessions per game while the Mean Green are 155th.
UTSA comes into the game with records of 17-12 straight up (SU) and 14-9 against the spread (ATS). Vegas has a tendency to place the total high when the Roadrunners are involved, as 56.5 percent of their games have gone under the total.
Meanwhile, North Texas owns records of 14-15 SU and 14-9 ATS. Coinciding with UTSA, games including the Mean Green also have a tendency to finish under the total (56.5 percent).
This is the second game of the season between these two teams. In the first, Roosevelt Smart scored a game-high 22 points and the Mean Green beat the Roadrunners 72-71, covering as 5.5-point underdogs. He also put up five rebounds. The game finished with a total of 143 points, which was 10 points below the projected point total of 153 points. The Mean Green’s turnover percentage was their biggest strength over the Roadrunners. North Texas had a rate of 13.0, while UTSA posted a mark of 18.3.
UTSA Roadrunners at North Texas Mean Green Free Pick
Pick: SU Winner – UTSA, ATS Winner – UTSA, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes:
UTSA is 9-5 ATS on the road with 9 overs and 5 unders.
At home, North Texas is 3-5 ATS with 4 overs and 4 unders.
North Texas averages 37.8 rebounds per game, which ranks 68th in the nation. UTSA ranks 265th in rebounds allowed per game (38.2).
The Mean Green rank 47th in three pointers allowed per game (19.6) while the Roadrunners rank 227th (23.7).
UTSA ranks 113th in steals per game (6.4) while North Texas ranks 239th (4.7).
The Mean Green rank 28th in assists allowed per game (11.2) while the Roadrunners rank 102nd (12.8).
UTSA averages 2.8 blocks per game, which ranks 163rd in the NCAA. North Texas ranks 178th in blocks allowed per game (4.2).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, UTSA is 4-1 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs.
North Texas is 2-3 ATS with 2 overs, 2 unders and 1 push over their last five games.
The Roadrunners have been outscored by an average of 1.6 points in their last five games. For the season, UTSA has defeated opponents by an average of 3.9 points.
During their last five games, the Mean Green have scored an average of 72.2 points per game (1.1 below their season average) and allowed an average of 79.6 points per game (7.6 above their season average).
