UTEP vs. North Texas Prediction and Odds (Back Mean Green as Home Favorites)

North Texas is looking to make a return to the NCAA Tournament this season and are starting to put it together in Conference USA play, winning eight straight to improve to 9-1 on the year. Now, they face a frisky UTEP squad that has won six straight of their own. Can the Miners hang around on the road?

Let's first check the odds from WynnBET Sportsbook:

UTEP vs. North Texas Odds, Spread and Total

Spread:

• UTEP +10.5 (-110)
• North Texas -10.5 (-110)

Moneyline:

• UTEP +425
• North Texas -575

Total: 119 (Over -110/Under -110)

UTEP vs. North Texas Prediction and Pick

It's always a tricky ask to back a double digit favorite with a total below 120, but I'm leaning towards the Mean Green disposing of another C-USA opponent.

While the Mean Green bolster the best defense in conference play, it's their work on the offensive glass that should generate far too many opportunities for the Miners to overcome. UNT is generating the best offensive rebounding rate in the conference while also posting the best effective field goal percentage. The offense is far more sustainable than UTEP's who will struggle to generate good looks all night.

The visitors are hitting on a measly 44% of their two-point shots and that's what North Texas' defense is created to do. The team is allowing the highest two-point rate in the league and almost all of them are contested. Factor in UTEP's porous interior offense with North Texas' overwhelming defense, this can be a rough road trip to Denton.

It won't be pretty, but I expect we see another double digit Mean Green win on Monday night.

LEAN: North Texas -10.5

All of Reed's college basketball plays can be tracked here, his best bets column for college basketball is 49-43-3 for +4.3 units