Florida Atlantic Owls vs North Texas Mean Green Picks and Predictions for Thursday March 12 2026
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The Florida Atlantic Owls and North Texas Mean Green meet in the American Conference Championship 2nd Round on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Legacy Arena at BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 PM ET with television coverage on ESPNU. At the time of this writing the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more daily predictions and betting insights.
Owls Advance After Defensive Tournament Opener
The Florida Atlantic Owls enter this matchup with an 18-14 overall record and a 9-9 mark in American Conference play this season. Florida Atlantic advanced to the second round after defeating Temple 63-59 in the opening round of the tournament. Over their last five games, the Owls have recently won over Temple twice and Charlotte, while also recently losing to Wichita State and North Texas.
Florida Atlantic averages 79.5 points per game while allowing 74.3 points per game this season. The Owls shoot 46% from the field, collect 38.8 rebounds per game, and average 13.5 assists per contest. Defensively, Florida Atlantic contributes 5.5 blocks and 5.9 steals per game, often relying on rebounding and interior defense to control the pace.
In their tournament win over Temple, Niccolo Moretti led Florida Atlantic with 19 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the field in an efficient performance. Devin Williams led the Owls with 6 rebounds, helping the team secure a 37-28 rebounding advantage. Florida Atlantic shot 50% from the field and 55% from three-point range, showing strong offensive efficiency. However, the Owls now face a short turnaround against a North Texas team that previously defeated them by one point late in the regular season.
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Mean Green Look to Control Tempo With Defensive Discipline
The North Texas Mean Green enter this matchup with an 18-13 overall record and a 9-9 mark in American Conference play, earning a bye into the second round of the tournament. Over their last five games, North Texas has recently won over Rice, UAB, and Florida Atlantic, while also recently losing to Charlotte and Tulane.
North Texas averages 70.4 points per game while allowing just 66.6 points per game this season. The Mean Green shoot 43% from the field, collect 34.7 rebounds per game, and average 12.3 assists per contest. Defensively, North Texas contributes 4.3 blocks and 9.4 steals per game, often slowing the pace and forcing opponents into uncomfortable half-court possessions.
In their most recent game, North Texas defeated Rice 62-58 in a defensive battle. David Terrell Jr. led the Mean Green with 15 points, while Josiah Shackleford led the team with 10 rebounds, helping North Texas stay competitive on the glass. Although the Mean Green shot just 43% from the field and struggled from three-point range, they forced 15 turnovers and committed only nine, showing strong defensive discipline. With the rest advantage and a defensive style that slows the tempo, North Texas will look to control the pace in this rematch.
Florida Atlantic Owls vs North Texas Mean Green Pick
Florida Atlantic Owls vs North Texas Mean Green Spread Pick
- Pick: North Texas Mean Green -2.5
North Texas already proved it can beat Florida Atlantic in the regular season and enters this matchup with the rest advantage and one of the best defensive units in the conference. Florida Atlantic played a solid game in the opening round but now faces a team that thrives in slow-paced defensive contests. With the Mean Green forcing turnovers and controlling tempo, they should be able to grind out another close win.
Florida Atlantic Owls vs North Texas Mean Green Total Pick
- Pick: Under 139.5
I like the under in this matchup because North Texas consistently slows the pace and holds opponents to low scoring totals. Their recent win over Rice finished with just 120 combined points, and their previous matchup with Florida Atlantic was also a tight defensive game. With tournament pressure and the Mean Green dictating tempo, this game should stay under the total.
Final Score Prediction: North Texas 68, Florida Atlantic 63
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