The North Texas Mean Green (30-7, 17-5 C-USA) and UAB Blazers (29-9, 16-7) meet Thursday in the NIT Championship. Tip from Orleans Arena in Las Vegas is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2/ESPN+). Let’s analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the North Texas vs. UAB odds as we make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
First, Charlotte won the CBI Tournament. Then, FAU won 4 straight games in the NCAA Tournament to make the Final 4 this weekend in Houston. Now, North Texas and UAB meet in the NIT title game. It’s been a heck of a postseason for Conference USA, and it’s a guarantee someone from the league will win the NIT.
This is actually the 4th time these teams have met this season. North Texas won 63-52 in Birmingham as a 3-point underdog as the Under cashed on Jan. 21. The Mean Green won 82-79 in overtime in Denton as a 2.5-point favorite as the Over connected.
The teams also met in the Conference USA semifinals, and the third time was the charm for UAB. The Blazers won 76-69 as a 2-point favorite as the Over connected.
Since getting drummed by the aforementioned FAU in the C-USA championship game, UAB has rattled off 4 straight wins, while covering 3 of those outings. The last time out, an 88-86 OT win over Utah Valley, was the non-cover as the Over (151.5) cashed.
Since UNT’s loss to UAB in the C-USA semifinals, it has also ripped off 4 straight wins, while covering the last 3 outings. Defense has been tremendous for the Mean Green, allowing just 55.3 PPG in the past 4 games.
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North Texas vs. UAB odds
Provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:36 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): North Texas +115 (bet $100 to win $115) | UAB -135 (bet $135 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): North Texas +2.5 (-118) | UAB -2.5 (-102)
- Over/Under (O/U): 128.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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North Texas vs. UAB picks and predictions
Prediction
UAB 66, North Texas 63
Moneyline
UAB (-135) is the play on the moneyline if you don’t want to fiddle around with the points. The books are expected a close game in this rare 4th meeting in the same season.
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Against the spread
UAB -2.5 (-102) needs to win by just a 3-point shot to cover, but that could actually be more difficult than normal.
North Texas +2.5 (-118) is a tremendous defense, and this game should be super close. The Mean Green has covered 3 of the last 4 meetings in this series, although UAB covered the most recent meeting, which was also at a neutral site.
Over/Under
The OVER 128.5 (-110) is the lean in this NIT title game.
The Over has cashed in 9 of the last 11 neutral floor battles for UAB, while going 30-14-1 in the past 45 games following a straight-up win.
The Over is 4-1 in the last 5 games following a straight-up win for UNT, while going 7-3-1 in the last 11 games after a cover.
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