The FAU Owls (5-2, 2-1 American Conference) and the North Texas Mean Green (5-2, 3-0) meet Thursday at DATCU Stadium in Denton, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN). Let's analyze college football odds around the FAU vs. North Texas odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
FAU leads the all-time series 8-7. North Texas has won the past 3 meetings, including a 41-37 victory in Boca Raton on Oct. 12, 2024, in the most recent battle in the series. UNT won 45-28 in the most recent meeting in Denton. FAU's last victory in the series came in the Conference USA Championship Game, a 41-17 victory in Boca in 2017, under then-coach Lane Kiffin and current New York Giants RB Devin Singletary.
The Owls
are coming off a 51-49 victory against the Rice Owls as a 9.5-point favorite Saturday as the Over (55.5) cashed. WR Easton Messer totaled 5 TDs against Rice, going for 2 rushing scores, 2 receiving TDs and a punt return for score with 262 all-purpose yards, earning American Offensive Player of the Week honors. FAU has scored 45+ points in 3 of the past 4 outings, and the Over is 4-0 in that span since Sept. 26. FAU is 0-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past 2 games after a 4-0 ATS run.
The Mean Green outlasted the Navy Midshipmen 49-39 as a 2.5-point favorite in Annapolis as the Over (60.5) cashed. QB Tayven Jackson passed for 305 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT, RB Jahiem White rushed for 174 yards and 2 TDs, while WR Justin Stevenson ended up with 8 receptions for 209 yards and 2 scores. North Texas has scored 45+ in 4 in a row, and 35+ points in 6 consecutive outings, while allowing 39+ in 3 of the past 5 outings, and 4 of 7 games this season. The Over has cashed in 5 in a row, while going 6-1 this season.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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FAU at North Texas odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:26 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): FAU +390 (bet $100 to win $390) | North Texas -520 (bet $520 to win $100)
- Against the spread: FAU +13.5 (+100) | North Texas -13.5 (-122)
- Over/Under (O/U): 76.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
FAU at North Texas picks and predictions
Prediction
North Texas 51, FAU 42
Moneyline
North Texas (-520) will set you back 5 times your potential return, and that's way too expensive for a conference battle between 2 teams that can score at will.
Neither defense can be trusted, and while North Texas is at home, venue won't matter all that much. This is going to be a track meet.
PASS.
Against the spread
FAU +13.5 (+100) is a strong play on the road, although traditional bettors don't like lines like these due to math. The price point is fine at even-money, but it's nicer to have +14 or +14.5. Why not pay up and take FAU +14.5 (-125) for a little bit of insurance? This is going to be a wild track meet, with defense just a suggestion.
Over/Under
OVER 76.5 (-115) is the play, and, no, that is not a typo. That is the real total, and this will be a fun game to watch Thursday night.
Jackson, White and Stevenson have taken over for the departed QB Drew Mestemaker, RB Caleb Hawkins and WR Wyatt Young, who all followed coach Eric Morris to the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Mean Green haven't missed a beat offensively.
For FAU, QB Caden Veltkamp and WRs Messer and Kelby Valsin will help the Owls put up video game numbers, too.
Best prop bet
FAU WR EASTON MESSER OVER 106.5 RECEIVING YARDS (-114).
Messer is on a roll, and he has really developed a wonderful rapport with Veltkamp. He has 58 receptions for 709 yards and 6 TDs, and he has 88+ receiving yards with at least 1 TD in 2 games in a row, but he has 26 receptions for 264 yards and 3 scores in the past 2 games.
Betting odds calculator
For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow Daniel Dobish on X at @danieledobish. Follow SportsbookWire on X at SportsBookWire and on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: FAU Owls at North Texas Mean Green odds, picks and predictions
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