Frisco Football Classic Picks, Predictions and Odds: North Texas vs. Miami-Ohio

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Dec. 23, 2021

Jonathan Willis
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

The first year of the Frisco Football Classic is set for Thursday as the North Texas Mean Green take on the Miami-Ohio RedHawks. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN from Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Score Prediction

Miami-Ohio 31, North Texas 27

Best Bets

Miami-Ohio -2.5 (-110) at DraftKings

Frisco Football Classic Predictions

The newest college football bowl game is the Frisco Football Classic. This game was hastily put together in early December in order to let every bowl eligible team participate in the postseason. This is not to be confused with the Frisco Bowl, and the inaugural (and probably only) Frisco Football Classic will pit the North Texas Mean Green against the Miami (OH) RedHawks.

Seth Littrell is looking to win his first bowl game with the North Texas Mean Green. His team overcame a 1-6 start to become bowl eligible with five straight wins to close out the season, including a big win over UTSA in the season finale. However, Chuck Martin is in the same boat with Miami of Ohio, and it will be Martin and the RedHawks that emerge victorious on Thursday in Frisco.

More Free College Football Picks

Frisco Football Classic Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Frisco Football Classic Betting Resources

Matchup: CUSA vs. MAC
Date: Thursday, December 23, 2021
Venue: Toyota Stadium
Location: Frisco, Texas
TV-Time: ESPN, 3:30 p.m. ET

North Texas Mean Green Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 6-6
ATS: 9-3
O/U: 4-7-1

The Mean Green are one of the most successful teams at running the ball in the nation. North Texas ranks fourth in attempts and fourth in rushing YPG as a team, so there is no secret as to what they want to do against Miami.

DeAndre Torrey will play his last game for North Texas on Thursday afternoon. Torrey was Second Team All-Conference USA this season with 1,215 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Mean Green have two talented freshmen ready to replace him though. Ikaika Ragsdale is a bruiser that averaged 5.7 YPC, while Ayo Adeyi is a speedster that averaged 6.1 YPC this season.

The quarterback play for North Texas has left a lot to be desired. Austin Aune has been a little better than Jace Ruder, but he hasn’t played great by any stretch. Aune is completing under 52% of his passes for 6.7 YPA this season, but he has been a solid runner.

North Texas doesn’t have a good pass defense. The Mean Green are allowing 7.9 YPA, and they have recorded just six interceptions this season. Linebacker K.D. Davis has played well despite being undersized, earning First Team All-CUSA honors.

Miami-Ohio RedHawks Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

SU: 6-6
ATS: 5-7
O/U: 6-6

Brett Gabbert is completing over 58% of his passes for 9.0 YPA with 24 touchdowns and six interceptions. Gabbert earned all-conference honors, and he threw four or more touchdowns in three of his last four games. The younger brother of Blaine Gabbert is looking like a future draft pick, and he has some scrambling ability too.

Receivers Jack Sorenson and Mac Hippenhammer both earned all-conference honors. Sorenson was one of the top wide outs in the conference with 69 receptions for 1,290 yards and 10 touchdowns, and Hippenhammer was a big play threat throughout the season for the RedHawks.

Miami runs the ball somewhat well. The RedHawks average 4.2 YPC as a team, and Keyon Mozee is the leading rusher. Freshman Kevin Davis has been explosive though and averaged 5.6 YPC in the season finale against Kent State.

This is a middle of the road defense. The RedHawks rank 73rd in Defensive SP+, and they are allowing just 25.4 PPG. Kameron Butler was a First Team All-MAC defensive end with eight sacks and three forced fumbles, and Ivan Pace Jr. also earned First Team All-MAC honors by leading the team with 116 tackles.

Miami-Ohio has failed to cover the spread in five of its last seven games when playing as the favorite. (AP)

Inside the Stats - North Texas Mean Green

Record: 6-6
VI Ranking: 85
Points Scored: 343
Points Allowed: 330
PS/G: 28.6 (67th)
PA/G: 27.5 (78th)

Inside the Stats - Miami-Ohio RedHawks

Record: 6-6
VI Ranking: 98
Points Scored: 349
Points Allowed: 286
PS/G: 29.1 (63rd)
PA/G: 23.8 (44th)

Key Players to Watch

NOTX: Austin Aune - QB (136/263, 1,763 yards, 9 TD, 7 INT)
NOTX: Deandre Torrey - RB (248 carries, 1,214 yards, 13 TD)
MIAO: Brett Gabbert - QB (156/268, 2,418 yards, 24 TD, 6 INT)
MIAO: Jack Sorenson - WR (69 catches, 1,290 yards, 10 TD)

Frisco Football Classic Betting Conclusion

Gabbert will be able to throw on this secondary. The weather will be gorgeous on Thursday, but his performance will put a damper on the Frisco Football Classic for all the North Texas fans in attendance.

b Betting Trends

Miami-Ohio has failed to cover the spread in five of its last seven games when playing as the favorite.
North Texas has covered the spread in five of its last six games away from home.
North Teaxs has covered the spread in six straight games.