North Texas Hosts FAU With 14-Point Edge in High-Scoring American Conference Clash
The Mean Green are favored to beat the Owls Thursday night in Denton, where a 77.5-point total line sets a new seasonal benchmark for the conference.
By Sofia Molina ·
North Texas fans can expect a fast tempo and a heavy favorite when the Mean Green host the Florida Atlantic Owls on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The matchup pits two American Conference teams with identical 5-2 records against each other at DATCU Stadium in Denton, Texas. The home squad enters the contest as a 14-point favorite, a spread that reflects its current dominance within the league.
The betting markets have set the over/under at 77.5 total points. This figure stands as one of the highest totals for any game this year. It sits 13.5 points higher than any other Week 9 FBS contest. The line is also 13.5 points above any previous game involving either Florida Atlantic or North Texas this season. That high number contrasts sharply with recent history in Denton, where the last four matchups have averaged just 60.3 points.
North Texas arrives with a 3-0 record in conference play. The Mean Green secured their fourth straight win on Saturday by defeating Navy by 10 points. Florida Atlantic holds a 2-1 mark in American Conference games. The Owls played in a 100-point shootout in Week 8, outscoring Rice 51-49. Both teams have demonstrated an ability to generate high scoring outputs during their non-conference schedules.
The SportsLine projection model ran 10,000 simulations of the contest to evaluate the outcome. The algorithm suggests the Under will hit in 86% of those scenarios. It projects the teams to combine for approximately 300 rushing yards. That volume of ground play is expected to consume game clock and limit passing opportunities. Although both squads have prolific offenses, they also rank in the top four in the American Conference for passing defense.
The model identifies one side of the point spread as hitting in well over 50% of the simulations. The specific pick is available through the SportsLine platform. The projection model has posted a 68-59 record on top-rated college football picks. That performance has returned nearly $400 for players who wagered $100 on those selections.
Source: CBS Sports
