UAB (16-8) vs North Texas (14-10)
February 18, 2024 at 03:00 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: UAB -2.5 — Over/Under: 132.5
The North Texas Mean Green will head up to Birmingham to face the UAB Blazers in AAC play this Sunday from the Bartow Arena on ESPN+. UAB leads the head-to-head series, 9-8, and they come in as 2.5-point home favorites, with the total hovering 132.5. Stay tuned for our North Texas vs UAB Prediction.
North Texas Mean Green Preview
North Texas moved to 14-10 after defeating Memphis in Denton, 76-66. The Mean Green pulled away from the Tigers down the stretch, and they’ll try to avoid trading a fifth straight game here in Birmingham. UNT is scoring 67.7 points per game, on 43.1% shooting, while allowing 60.7 ppg, and they’re currently 7th in the AAC with a 7-5 record in league play. The Mean Green are 5-5 over their last ten games, and they’re 3-4 on the road this season. North Texas will face UTSA after this game.
North Texas’ Impact Players
- Ross Hodge’s team annually leans on their defense and operates at a slower pace, averaging 64.2 possessions per game (361st), and they’re one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country at 38.0% (15th).
- Sophomore guard Jason Edwards poured in a game-high 30 points in the win over Memphis, and he leads UNT in scoring (18.5).
- Junior swingman Aaron Scott led the way with an 18-point double-double in the win over Tulsa, and he’s averaging 11.8 ppg and 6.1 rpg.
- Ole Miss transfer Robert Allen has reached double figures in four of the previous seven games, and he leads the Mean Green in rebounding (7.3), while scoring 6.49 ppg.
UAB Blazers Preview
UAB improved to 16-8 after defeating Tulsa on the road, 70-63. The Blazers marched back in the second half to take down the Golden Hurricane, and they’ll look to pin a third straight here against the Mean Green. UAB is scoring 77.0 points per game, on 44.4% shooting, while allowing 75.0 ppg, and they’re currently 5th in the AAC with a 8-4 record in league play. The Blazers are 7-3 over their last ten games, and they’re 10-3 in Birmingham this season.
UAB Team Profile
- Andy Kennedy’s group has maintained their pace throughout the season, averaging 72.1 possessions per game (118th), but they haven’t shot very well from the outside, connecting on just 31.0% of their threes (310th).
- Veteran guard Eric Gaines has tallied seven dimes or more in three straight games, and he leads the Blazers in scoring (12.5) and assists (5.3).
- Junior forward Yaxel Lendeborg grabbed 21 boards in the OT win over FAU, and he leads UNT in rebounding (10.1), while scoring 12.4 ppg.
- Sophomore guard Efrem Johnson went for a game-high 20 points against SMU, and he’s third on the team at 10.8 ppg.
- Senior forward Javian Davis posted a 14-point double-double in the Tulsa victory, and he’s averaging 10.3 ppg and 6.3 rpg.
North Texas vs UAB Trends
- UNT is 14-8 against the spread, with a 10-11-1 O/U record
- UAB is 13-9-1 ATS, with a 13-10 over/under record.
North Texas vs UAB Prediction
Two of the AAC’s sleeper squads will wrap up their season series this Sunday, and it feels like a spot to lean on the hosting school. UAB is undefeated at home during conference play, and they played North Texas very well in the first leg, as they outlasted them in overtime at the end of January. UNT’s win over Memphis was impressive, but it’s unlikely they shoot as well outside of Denton, and they’ve dropped three of their last four appearances as visitors. Let’s back UAB for this matchup in the AAC.