North Texas and Tulsa kick off conference play on Thursday night at H.A. Chapman Stadium, with both teams getting their first opportunity to make an early move in the AAC race. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
North Texas arrives in Tulsa at 2-2, but there are still plenty of questions surrounding the Mean Green in their first season under Neal Brown. Their two wins have both come at home against UNLV and FCS opponent Houston Christian, while their first two road games ended in lopsided losses to Indiana and Texas State.
UNT was overwhelmed 52-16 by Indiana in the season opener before responding with a 44-6 win over UNLV. The Mean Green then went to Texas State and allowed 49 points in a 14-point loss before returning home to beat Houston Christian 63-14 last Saturday.
The uneven start comes after an offseason that completely changed the direction of the program. Former head coach Eric Morris left for Oklahoma State following last season, and quarterback Drew Mestemaker was among the players who followed him to Stillwater. Brown took over the program, while Tayven Jackson stepped in at quarterback.
Tulsa has put together a 3-1 start under second-year head coach Tre Lamb, highlighted by a 24-10 upset of Oklahoma State in Tulsa. The Golden Hurricane followed that victory with wins over Sam Houston and East Texas A&M before suffering their first loss of the season at Arkansas last Saturday.
The Golden Hurricane also get Baylor Hayes back at quarterback after he missed the last two games with a knee injury. Hayes started Tulsa’s first two games and completed 17 of 24 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown in the upset over Oklahoma State.
North Texas has controlled this series recently, winning each of the last three meetings, including a 52-20 victory in 2024. Tulsa still holds a 17-9 advantage in the all-time series.
North Texas vs. Tulsa Odds Today
North Texas enters Thursday night’s conference opener as a small road favorite at Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook:
- Point Spread: North Texas -2.5 (-110) | Tulsa +2.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: North Texas -130 | Tulsa +105
- Total: Over 57.5 (-110) | Under 57.5 (-110)
Referenced odds subject to change.
Best Bet for North Texas vs. Tulsa
Tulsa +2.5 (-110): North Texas has handled the two favorable spots on its schedule, but I’m not convinced that makes the Mean Green a team I want to lay points with on the road.
UNT’s two victories have come in Denton against UNLV and Houston Christian. Its two trips away from home have gone much differently, with Indiana winning 52-16 and Texas State handing the Mean Green a 49-35 loss. That adds up to 101 points allowed across two road games.
As mentioned above, Eric Morris left after last season to take the Oklahoma State job, and Drew Mestemaker was among the group of Mean Green players who followed him. UNT is now trying to establish itself with a new head coach, new quarterback and a roster that looks considerably different from the one that had so much success last season.
Tulsa has already faced plenty of familiar pieces from that former North Texas group. The Golden Hurricane beat Oklahoma State 24-10 in their season opener, forcing four turnovers against the Cowboys. Mestemaker threw two interceptions, Oklahoma State lost two fumbles and Tulsa kept the Cowboys scoreless in the fourth quarter to finish off the upset.
Now Tulsa gets its starting quarterback back for another home game. Hayes missed the last two contests with a knee injury, but he was under center for the Oklahoma State win and completed 17 of 24 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown in that game.
North Texas may ultimately prove that its new-look roster is ready to contend in the American, but beating UNLV and Houston Christian at home isn’t enough for me to lay points with the Mean Green here. Tulsa has already knocked off Oklahoma State in this stadium, gets Hayes back under center and has the points on its side Thursday night.
- Best Bet: Tulsa +2.5 (-110)
Betting Splits at Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet players are nearly split down the middle on the moneyline, while the spread shows a much wider difference between the number of bets and where the money has landed:
- Moneyline: North Texas has drawn 50.4% of the tickets but 70.5% of the handle.
- Spread: North Texas -2.5 is pulling in 83.3% of spread bets, though those bets represent only 33.4% of the money wagered.
- Total: Over 57.5 has received 60.2% of the tickets, while the Under has drawn 54.3% of the handle.
North Texas vs. Tulsa Game Info
- šļø Location: H.A. Chapman Stadium – Tulsa, Oklahoma
- š Date: Thursday, October 1
- ā° Start Time: 9 p.m. ET
- šŗ Where to Watch: ESPN
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