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After a two-game homestand, the UTSA Roadrunners will be on the road. UTSA and the North Texas Mean Green will face off in a Conference USA battle at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday at Apogee Stadium. The Roadrunners won't have the home-field advantage, but they do enjoy a 10.5-point advantage in the spread.
It was a close one, but last week UTSA sidestepped the UAB Blazers for a 34-31 win. WR Zakhari Franklin and QB Frank Harris were among the main playmakers for UTSA as the former caught six passes for two TDs and 97 yards and the latter passed for three TDs and 323 yards on 36 attempts. One of the most thrilling moments was Franklin's 54-yard TD reception in the third quarter.
Special teams collected ten points for UTSA. K Hunter Duplessis booted in two field goals, the longest a 51-yarder in the second quarter, which ultimately accounted for the difference in the game.
Meanwhile, when you finish with 364 more yards than your opponent like North Texas did last week, a favorable outcome is almost sure to follow. They claimed a resounding 49-7 victory over the FIU Panthers on the road. The matchup was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 35 to nothing. The Mean Green relied on the efforts of QB Austin Aune, who passed for two TDs and 219 yards on 13 attempts in addition to punching in one rushing touchdown, and RB DeAndre Torrey, who rushed for two TDs and 109 yards on 18 carries. Near the top of the highlight reel was Aune's 55-yard TD bomb to WR Roderic Burns in the second quarter.
North Texas' defense was a presence as well, as it got past FIU's offensive line to sack QB Max Bortenschlager four times for a total loss of 26 yards. It was a group effort with six guys contributing.
This next contest looks promising for UTSA, who are favored by a full 10.5 points. Those interested in the spread don't face an easy decision since they are 7-3 ATS and North Texas 8-2.
UTSA is now a perfect 11-0 while the Mean Green sit at 5-6. A pair of defensive stats to keep an eye on: The Roadrunners are stumbling into the matchup with the 206th most passing touchdowns allowed in the nation, having given up 20 on the season. North Texas has experienced some passing struggles of their own as they are 216th worst in the nation in passing touchdowns allowed, with 22 on the season. It's possible one of these Achilles' heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.
