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(All odds via PointsBet Sportsbook)
The inaugural Frisco Football Classic features a never-before-seen matchup, with North Texas and Miami (OH) playing for the very first time. This may be something of a “left over” bowl, given it was created at the last minute, but rest assured both teams will be out in full force.
Who has the advantage in a competing battle of styles? Let’s find out.
What: Frisco Football Classic
Who: North Texas (6-6, 5-3 C-USA West) vs. Miami (OH) (6-6, 5-3 MAC East)
Where: Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas
When: December 23rd at 3:30 P.M. ET (ESPN)
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Opening Line: Miami (OH) -4.5 (O/U 52.5)
Current Line: Miami (OH) -3 (O/U 54.5)
Most recent bowl result: North Texas lost to Appalachian State, 56-28, in the 2020 Myrtle Beach Bowl, Miami (OH) lost to Louisiana, 27-17, in the 2019 LendingTree Bowl.
North Texas at a glance: The Mean Green are one of the hottest teams in the country. They started out a tough 1-6 getting routinely pounded, but they finished the year on a five-game win streak, with their last regular season game a marquee win against the then-undefeated UTSA Roadrunners.
Miami (OH) at a glance: On the other hand, the RedHawks were up and down all season. They’ll string together a few good wins before suffering a brutal loss, and the cycle continues. They were in the running to playing MAC Championship but suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to Kent State, 48-47, late in the season to miss out.
Keys to the Matchup: North Texas went back to the ol’ reliable in football, AKA running and defense. They averaged 283 rushing yards per game over their five-game win streak (they went over 300 three times) and have held those opponents to just 17 points per game. They’ve got a stable of running backs that can put the hurt on you (three different backs went over 100 in their win streak) and if QB Austin Aune can keep the interceptions down like he has recently (six in his first five games, one in the last five) then North Texas can do this.
On the other side, Miami (OH) are surprisingly one of the best passing offenses in the nation. Their 282.6 passing yards per game ranks 39th in the nation, and QB Brett Gabbert (yes, brother of Blaine) has really established himself as a threat recently. He’s thrown 15 of his 24 touchdowns this year in the past four games and went over 350 yards in three of those games. He may not be particularly accurate, sporting a 58.2 completion percentage, but he gets results.
Best Bet: North Texas (+3). The Mean Green are on a fantastic run (literally) and that should help them pound Miami (OH) into dust. The RedHawks just gave up 303 rushing yards to Kent State, and while Gabbert can throw them back into games (nearly did it against Ohio) North Texas will control the time of possession and their defense has been MUCH better recently. North Texas being basically at home, playing in Frisco albeit in a different stadium, also doesn’t hurt.
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