North Texas vs. UTEP Week 0 College Football Picks: Can UTEP Snap Five-Year Losing Skid Against Mean Green?
UTEP hasn’t beaten North Texas since 2016. With North Texas in transition, can the Miners step up and turn the tide of this series? Read on for our North Texas-UTEP picks.
North Texas ran one of the fastest-paced offenses in the FBS in 2021. But in the midst of a late-season scoring surge, the Mean Green tangled with UTEP in a defensive struggle. Could the 2022 matchup be a similar slog?
Here are our North Texas-UTEP college football picks for Week 0 (odds via FanDuel and DraftKings sportsbooks; Pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).
North Texas vs. UTEP Game Info
Date: Saturday, Aug. 27, 9 p.m. ET
TV: Stadium
Location: Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
Weather: 85 degrees, 5% chance of precipitation, 6-mph winds
North Texas vs. UTEP Odds Analysis
There's been substantial point-spread movement for this game since UTEP opened as a four-point underdog. UTEP is suddenly only a half-point favorite at FanDuel, while the Miners are catching a point at DraftKings. Of the total money wagered on the spread, 78% has gone toward the underdog Miners, drawing that line closer to a pick’em as the game approaches.
The total has also dropped a decent amount, starting at 57 and now sitting at 54.5 through both DraftKings and FanDuel. The Under is getting 65% of the money.
North Texas vs. UTEP Picks
North Texas vs. UTEP Predictions
UTEP +1 (-110) ★★★
North Texas has won five straight over UTEP, but the Mean Green have won by a combined five points in the last two matchups. This could be the year the Miners prevail.
Quarterback Austin Aune returns as UNT's starter, but he does so after throwing for fewer than 2,000 yards over 13 games in 2021. Leading rusher Deandre Torrey was responsible for a hefty portion of the team's offense a season ago, but he’s moved on to the pro level. It's unclear if Aune can turn the Mean Green's offense into a more dynamic passing unit. He may be called upon to try without Torrey.
The Mean Green haven’t beaten the first FBS opponent on their schedule since 2018. Their offense will now struggle to score efficiently while still in search of a new identity.
Under 54.5 (-110) ★★★★
These teams combined to allow 53.8 points per game in 2021 while scoring just over 50 points. North Texas was a solid force for Under bettors on the road, with the Under cashing during four of the Mean Green’s six games as the visitor.
But the Mean Green's offense averaged 36.4 points per game over their five-game winning streak to conclude the season, falling short of 30 just once against UTEP.
That 20-17 struggle when North Texas emerged victorious showed that the Miners could frustrate the high-octane Mean Green. UTEP ran fewer plays per game than the bulk of the nation in 2021. If the team plays a similar style in 2022, a slow scoring pace will result.
North Texas frequently opens its slate with a non-FBS opponent, but the Mean Green have historically struggled during their first FBS game of a season. If the fast-paced offense stalls out, this could turn into an affair with less scoring than expected.
Where to Bet on North Texas-UTEP Picks
Here are our top-rated sportsbooks:
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North Texas-UTEP picks made 8/25/2022 at 11:30 p.m. ET
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