Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at North Texas Mean Green
Mean Green Stadium – Denton, Texas
Thursday, September 11, 2014, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: CBS Sports
Opening Line: North Texas -4
Current Line: North Texas -4 1/2
Opening Total: 49
Current Total: 47 (under -125)
Opening Money Line: North Texas -250 / Louisiana Tech +210
Current Money Line: North Texas -195 / Louisiana Tech +170
The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs and North Texas Mean Green open Conference USA play against each other Thursday night in Denton, Texas. This is the 13th meeting between schools with each team claiming six wins in the series. The Bulldogs are 3-1 in Denton though. North Texas won last year’s meeting 28-13 in Ruston, Louisiana.
Both Lousiana Tech and North Texas are 1-1 on the season. They both were blown out in their first games on the road at Big 12 schools and both beat in-state rivals last week by big margins, The Bulldogs lost at Oklahoma 48-16 but beat Louisiana-Lafayette last week on the road 48-20. North Texas lost at Texas 38-7 and beat SMU at home 43-6 last week. Louisiana Tech is 1-1 ATS this season and both games have gone over the total. North Texas is also 1-1 ATS and the total is 1-1.
Lousiana Tech is coached by Skip Holtz. The Bulldogs are being outscored 34-32 so far this season. Louisiana Tech is averaging 389 yards per game including 243 passing and 146 rushing yards per game. On defense, the Bulldogs are allowing 426 yards per game including 245 passing and 181 rushing yards per game. Louisiana Tech has forced 5 turnovers so far and only allowed 1 this season. Louisiana Tech is averaging 34 penalty yards per game and opponents average 35 yards. The Bulldogs are 13/32 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 19/38. Louisiana Tech has forced one sack and allowed four this season. The Bulldogs are 5/5 scoring in the red zone with 3 touchdowns, and opponents are 9/10 with 8 touchdowns. Louisiana Tech has one defensive touchdown this season.
Louisiana Tech quarterback Cody Sokol has completed 63.8% of his passes for 486 yards with 4 touchdowns and an interception. Running back Kenneth Dixon has 28 carries for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 5 catches for 17 yards and a touchdown. Dixon had a 99 yard touchdown run against Louisiana-Lafayette last week. Blake Martin and Jarred Craft will also get some carries. Craft has a touchdown run. Receiver Sterling Griffin has 10 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Trent Taylor has 7 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Paul Turner and Hunter Lee will also get plenty of catches. Receivers Carlos Henderson and Eddie Johnson are both questionable with a suspension.
North Texas is coached by Dan McCarney. The Mean Green are outscoring teams 25-22 this season. North Texas is averaging 224 yards per game on offense, including 62 passing yards and 162 rushing yards. On defense, North Texas is allowing 314 yards per game including 228 passing and 86 rushing yards. The Mean Green have forced 7 turnovers and allowed 3 so far in two games. North Texas is averaging 111 penalty yards per game and opponents are averaging 63. The Mean Green are 9/32 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 7/29. North Texas has forced six sacks and allowed 5 this season. The Mean Green are 4-4 scoring in the red zone with two touchdowns and opponents are 6/7 with 5 touchdowns. North Texas has two defensive touchdowns and has allowed one so far.
North Texas has used two quarterbacks this season. Josh Greer has thrown for 94 yards with 2 interceptions. Andrew McNulty has thrown for 29 yards with 2 interceptions. Running back Reggie Pegram has 36 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. Jeffrey Wilson and Antoinne Jimmerson will also get some carries. No Mean green receiver has more than 4 catches for 36 yards.
Louisiana Tech is 14-5-1 ATS after gaining more than 450 total yards, 16-6 in road games, 11-5-1 after a cover, 6-13 overall, 8-20 after a straight up win by 20 points or more, 3-10 on fieldturf, 2-7 after passing for more than 280 yards, 1-7 after a straight up win, 0-5 after scoring 40 points or more, 0-4 in Thursday games, and 0-7 after rushing for more than 200 yards.
North Texas is 8-1 ATS at home, 6-1 in Conference USA games, and after a straight up win, 5-1 in Thursday games and after a cover, 4-1 after rushing for more than 200 yards, 8-2 overall and on fieldturf, 4-1 after passing for less than 170 yards, and after allowing less than 275 total yards, and 5-2 after allowing less than 20 points.
North Texas has struggled a little on offense so far especially in the passing game. Yes, the Mean Green prefer to run the ball more than they pass. Still North Texas scored 43 points against SMU but it took 5 field goals and a defensive touchdown to get there. Louisiana Tech showed some spark late against Oklahoma’s second stringers, and routed a decent Louisiana-Lafayette team on the road. I think North Texas pulls out a close game at home in a low scoring game.
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