The North Texas Mean Green (2-2) and Tulsa Golden Hurricane (3-1) swing into American Athletic Conference action Thursday night in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Kickoff at Chapman Stadium is at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze college football odds around the North Texas vs. Tulsa odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
North Texas covered a -38.5 number in a 63-14 (Over 60.5) win over the FCS Houston Christian Huskies last Saturday. RB Jahiem White rushed for 133 yards and 4 TDs on just 11 carries, while QB Tayven Jackson went 16 of 18 for 270 yards and a TD. The Mean Green rolled up 648 yards and now rank ninth in the nation in yards per game (516.0).
Tulsa was a 6.5-point underdog in a 34-6 (Under 51.5) loss at
the Arkansas Razorbacks last Saturday. A stout UT defense had allowed just 27 points during its 3-0 start before surrendering 34 to the Razorbacks.
Thursday's tussle in Tulsa marks the AAC opener for both programs. Tulsa leads the all-time series 17-9, but North Texas has won 3 straight, including a 52-20 triumph in 2024 and a 35-28 victory in its last trip to Tulsa in 2023.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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North Texas at Tulsa odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:29 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): North Texas -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Tulsa -108 (bet $108 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): North Texas -1 (-110) | Tulsa +1 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 57.5 (O: -110 | U: -120)
North Texas at Tulsa picks and predictions
Prediction
Tulsa 28, North Texas 24
Moneyline
PASS.
While Tulsa (-108) is a tiny home underdog, it's more advantageous to take the point for basically the same price.
Against the spread
BACK TULSA +1 (-110).
On the road, UNT has gone 1-3 ATS since Dec. 1. At home, UT has gone 4-1 since Nov. 15.
This is an offense (North Texas) versus defense (Tulsa) matchup, and one that tilts some leverage toward the defense. The Mean Green has played one woeful defensive team (Texas State) and one FCS squad in the last fortnight. But Tulsa figures as slightly above average in defensive success rate and as a top-10 in denying explosive plays. UNT is a pass-first offense, and Tulsa is above average in causing havoc with its defensive backs.
The Golden Hurricane can run the ball (181.5 yards per game) and is adept in short-yardage situations. Look for Tulsa to be able to keep the ball away from UNT. And look for some bend-don't-break defensive series for the Hurricane, which leads the AAC in yielding TDs on just 28.6% of opponent trips to the red zone.
Over/Under
The Under has prevailed in 5 straight Tulsa games; all 4 of this season's contests have hit the Under with double-digit margins to spare.
North Texas is averaging 39.5 points per game, but could be in for a bit of a whiplash contest due to its schedule. Tulsa's defense comes out smelling like a rose in the points-per-opportunity department. In what figures as a mid-pace game on an evening with a decent chance of rain in the forecast and with the better of the 2 offenses (UNT) being a squad that also takes its 3-point medicine with regularity (the Green have filed a league-high 9 field-goal attempts), a high-40s-low-50s total is likely enough.
The UNDER 57.5 (-106) -- available at FanDuel Sportsbook -- is the leverage end of this Thursday total.
Betting odds calculator
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: North Texas Mean Green at Tulsa Golden Hurricane odds, picks and predictions
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