The Florida Atlantic Owls offense was on fire the first time the team faced the North Texas Mean Green this season. Now, the two will meet again in the Conference USA Championship Game this weekend and the Owls will try to bring the heat once more.
Both teams will be playing for their first Conference USA titles on Saturday, although each has won conference titles in other divisions. The Owls and Mean Green both also come into this matchup with a record of 9-3 on the season.
FAU won the first matchup and more of the same is expected in this showdown as it enters as the favorite.
Kickoff for this regular season Week 14 game is set for Saturday, December 2, 2017, at 12 p.m. ET at FAU Stadium.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
North Texas +11
Florida Atlantic -11
Over/Under 73.5
Odds Analysis
Florida Atlantic is a sizable favorite in this game and the bettors are all over the Owls to cover, as more than 92 percent of the action is heading their way. The scoring total is really high as an offensive explosion is expected.
The “over” is still the more popular play as bettors expect a shootout. FAU is a -420 favorite on the moneyline while North Texas is +330 to pull the upset. The vast majority of action on the moneyline is headed toward the Mean Green and its lucrative payout.
Last Meeting
The last time these two teams met back in October, Florida Atlantic scored nine touchdowns against North Texas. The Owls started the game with eleven straight scoring drives and set a conference record with 804 total yards in the 69-31 win.
Florida Atlantic quarterback Jason Driskel threw for 357 yards and two touchdowns. Sophomore running back Devin Singletary led the effort on the ground, finishing with 123 yards and three touchdowns and four additional Florida Atlantic running backs got in on the scoring as well.
After trailing by 34 points at halftime, North Texas’ offense finally got going a bit in the second half but the deficit was just too large and the Owls never let off the gas. The Mean Green also committed three costly turnovers in the game, and North Texas scored on every one of those ensuing drives.
Player To Watch
Nic Smith -- The Mean Green’s freshman running back had a breakout game last week against Rice. He finished with a career-high 178 yards rushing and a touchdown in the team’s 30-14 win.
Smith is the team’s second leading receiver behind senior Jeffery Wilson, but Wilson was out last week with ankle injury so Smith stepped in as the go-to guy. It’s unclear at this point if Wilson, who has rushed for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, will be back this weekend against Florida Atlantic.
North Texas runs a pass-heavy offense behind quarterback Mason Fine, but will need to establish some sort of a run game to have a chance at upsetting Florida Atlantic. If Wilson can’t go Saturday, it will most likely be up to Smith to carry that load.
Free ATS Pick
Florida Atlantic dominated so soundly in the first matchup that it makes sense that there will be a bunch of money on it to cover. The Owls were a finely-tuned machine in that matchup, but the Mean Green should make this one closer.
North Texas didn’t play well last time out but now will have a full game worth of tape in order to study and should be able to do better in the rematch. However, the Owls have too many weapons and are clicking well. Take FAU to both win this game and cover the spread. The “under” is the choice, but just barely.
College Football Odds: Florida Atlantic 44, North Texas 28
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