North Texas at FAU odds, picks and predictions
The North Texas Mean Green (12-6, 5-1 AAC) and FAU Owls (16-4, 6-1) meet Sunday at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton, Fla. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Below, we analyze FanDuel Sportsbook's lines around the North Texas vs. FAU odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The Mean Green heads to Boca looking to stay hot. This is a team right in the mix for the top spot in the AAC, and North Texas has used a lockdown defense to get the job done. UNT picked up a 68-66 win over SMU on Thursday, and it has allowed 62 or fewer points in 7 of the past 8 outings. The Under is 4-1 in the past 5 contests, while UNT is 5-2 against the spread (ATS) in the previous 7 outings.
The Owls scored a sweep in a Texas 2-step last week, winning 112-103 in OT at UTSA and 69-56 at Rice on Wednesday. The cover at Rice snapped an 0-7 ATS skid. FAU has won the 5 games outright since losing 70-68 at Charlotte on Jan. 6. The Owls are 3-3 ATS in the past 6 at "The Elly", but they have failed to cover the past 3, all as a double-digit favorite.
FAU is No. 24 in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll.
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North Texas at FAU odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access Paste BN Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:59 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): North Texas +340 (bet $100 to win $340) | FAU -450 (bet $450 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): North Texas +9.5 (-120) | FAU -9.5 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 133.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
North Texas at FAU picks and predictions
Prediction
FAU 65, North Texas 62
Moneyline
FAU (-450) is way too risky, even at home, against a defensive-minded North Texas (+340) team which has won 7 of the past 8 games. You would need to risk 4 1/2 times your potential return, and there is just no value there.
The Mean Green has just 3 scorers averaging double-digits in points. Offense isn't a huge part of how they do things, but defense is what makes UNT successful. The Mean Green allow just 58.7 points per game, ranking 4th in the nation, while holding the opposition to 38.6% on defensive field-goal percentage.
The Owls are lucky this game is at home, and not in Denton, or we might have been looking at an upset. I expect FAU to escape by the skin of their teeth in a tough, low-scoring battle, but it is too risky playing straight up.
AVOID.
Against the spread
NORTH TEXAS +9.5 (-120) is worth a look on the road.
FAU -9.5 (-102) has gotten the job done lately, at least straight up, but the Owls are just 1-7 ATS in the past 8 games. When FAU's shot is falling, and it is playing against lax defensive teams, this team gets out and runs, and scores frequently. They're a good fast-break team, but it will have tremendous difficulty against the suffocating Mean Green D.
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Over/Under
UNDER 133.5 (-110) is worth a look in this important AAC clash on Sunday.
FAU cashed the Under at Rice last time out, snapping a 4-0 Over run for the Owls. The Under is still 5-5 in the past 10 games, and the offense has been a bit Jekyll and Hyde lately. The Owls have scored 85 or more points in 4 of the past 65 games, but the offense also has 69 or fewer points in 3 of the previous 8 outings.
North Texas has been ticking off Under results on the regular lately, going 4-1 in the past 5 games, and this matinee game in Boca should be no different.
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