SMU at North Texas College Football Picks and Predictions 9/1/2018

Saturday, September 1, 2018

Apogee Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

Apogee Stadium is the venue for the game between the SMU Mustangs and the North Texas Mean Green on Saturday, September 1, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has North Texas as 3 point favorites. The Mean Green were 8-6-0 against the spread last year and their over/under mark was 9-5-0. The Mustangs were 6-7-0 ATS and their over/under record was 7-6-0.

Valuable SMU Mustangs Betting Trends

The SMU Mustangs were 7-6-0 against the over/under last season

The SMU Mustangs were 6-7-0 against the spread last year

Important North Texas Mean Green Betting Trends

The North Texas Mean Green were 9-5-0 against the over/under last season

The North Texas Mean Green were 8-6-0 against the spread last year

Key SMU Mustangs Injuries

08/12/18 OL Levon Livingston Back is out indefinitely
08/07/18 WR Reggie Roberson Jr. Eligibility is probable Saturday vs North Texas
08/05/18 DB Jordan Wyatt Knee is upgraded to probable Saturday vs North Texas
07/01/18 OL Bryce Wilds Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs North Texas
07/01/18 OL Nick Natour Undisclosed is questionable Saturday vs North Texas

Key North Texas Mean Green Injuries

07/28/18 OL Brendon Weatherspoon ACL is out for season
07/08/18 OL Riley Mayfield Eligibility is probable Saturday vs SMU

Useful Offensive Statistics

The SMU Mustangs ran for 2,397 yards as a team last year, which ranked 41st in the nation. They ran 486 times, averaging 4.9 yards per rush as a unit. The Mustangs were penalized on offense 83 times for 770 yards last year, which had them 43rd in the country in penalties. They were 15th in Division 1 in points scored with 491. They ran 972 plays last year for 6,221 yards, which ranked them 18th in the nation in total offense. The Mustangs averaged 6.4 yards per play, which was 24th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 312 1st downs last season, ranking them 15th overall as an offensive unit. Ben Hicks completed 276 throws while attempting 472 passes for a completion percentage of 58.5% last year. He passed for 3,569 yards. He averaged 7.8 adjusted yards per throw and 7.6 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 140.

Defensive Statistics

The Mustangs rush defense gave up 546 attempts for 2,700 yards last season, putting them in 115th place in the country against the run. They had 94 penalties for 861 yards on defense last year. That placed them 118th in Division 1. SMU was 122nd in college football in points surrendered on defense with 477. They gave up a total of 6,197 yards on D, which was 123rd in the nation. The Mustangs were 123rd in yards per play allowed with 6.6. Opponent offenses completed 247 throws on 394 attempts against the SMU Mustangs defense last season, ranking them 86th and 66th in the country. The SMU pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,497 yards in the air, which was 119th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The SMU Mustangs tried 21 field goals last year and made 16, which was 71st in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 71%. SMU Mustangs kickers made 91% of their extra points, going 57 for 62 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,396 yards on 59 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That ranked them 87th in the NCAA in punting average. SMU was 123rd in the country in punt returns with 7 last season. They totaled 26 punt return yards and averaged 3.7 yards per return, which was 122nd in D-1. They returned 48 kicks for 935 yards on special teams, which put them 25th in kick return yardage. The Mustangs averaged 20 yards per kick return and they were 15th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 7,181.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Mean Green were 13th in Division 1 in points scored with 497 last year. They ran 1,035 plays last season for 6,385 yards, which ranked them 12th in the nation in total offense. The North Texas Mean Green averaged 6.2 yards per play, which was 32nd in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 340 1st downs last year, placing them 6th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground North Texas ran for 2,299 yards as a team, which ranked 48th in the country. They ran 515 times, averaging 4.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Mean Green were penalized on offense 69 times for 613 yards last season, which had them 88th in the nation in penalties. Mason Fine threw for 4,052 yards last season. He completed 324 passes on 511 attempts for a completion percentage of 63.4%. His quarterback rating last year was 144.2. He averaged 7.9 yards per pass attempt and 7.8 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

North Texas was 125th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 490 last season. They surrendered a total of 6,040 yards on D, which was 119th in Division 1. The Mean Green were ranked 90th in yards per play allowed with 6. Opposing offenses completed 232 passes on 421 attempts against the North Texas defense last season, placing them 69th and 84th in the country. The North Texas Mean Green pass defense also gave up a total of 3,205 yards through the air, which was 104th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 589 attempts for 2,835 yards last year, putting them in 120th place in D-1 against the run. The Mean Green committed 80 penalties for 720 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 86th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

North Texas was ranked 48th in the nation in punt returns with 20 last year. They accumulated 197 punt return yards and averaged 10.4 yards per return, which was 25th in college football. They returned 46 kicks for 876 yards on special teams, ranking 43rd in kick return yardage. The North Texas Mean Green averaged 19 yards per kick return and they were 11th in the country in all-purpose yards with 7,459. The Mean Green attempted 22 field goals last season and made 20, which was 19th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 91%. North Texas kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 55 for 56 last year. Their punters totaled 2,061 yards on 52 punts, averaging 40 yards per punt. That placed them 106th in Division 1 in punting average.

Who will win tonight's Mustangs/Mean Green college football game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take the Mustangs +3

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