College Football Predictions – North Texas Mean Green 2020 College Football Preview
August 19, 2020
2019 Recap
Record – 4-8
ATS – 3-9
The Mean Green struggled from start to finish and ended up with their worst win-loss record since the disaster that was 2015 (1-11). They didn’t manage to beat anyone with a pulse (Abilene Christian, UTSA, MTSU, UTEP) and dropped the final three games of the season. The year was especially disappointing given the success of the past two years in which they booked nine wins on each occasion. Changes have been made to the coaching staff. Let’s see how they stack up with the competition in the West division.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
West Division – #3
Conference USA – #8
North Texas Mean Green 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
North Texas had a dangerous THROW GAME LY behind the arm of Mason Fine (3,088, 29-9 TD to INT) and were the #2 passing team in the conference. Fine leaves the program as their all-time leading passer and it’ll be up to one of a pair of sophomores (Austin Aune, Jason Bean) to lead the way going forward. Those two young men threw a combined 40 passes in 2019. Whomever ends up under center will be glad to know that two of their top three WRs are back this year including senior Jaelon Darden who led the team in yards, receptions, and TDs (12) (!) LY. Jyaire Shorter booked 9 TDs and averaged close to 20 YPC (19.7). Senior TE Jason Pirtie is a handy target to have around and he averaged 15.5 YPC LY (5 TD). The rushing attack looks set with the return of their top-two RBs (Tre Siggers, DeAndre Torrey) who combined for over 1,200 yards and 8 TDs, and note that both men averaged over 5.0 YPC. Recall that Torrey booked 15 rushing TDs in 2018. The offensive line has to replace three starters including a pair of seniors.
The Mean Green have averaged 30+ PPG in each of the last three years but will be challenged to hit that mark in 2020.
DEFENSE
The Mean Green were back to their old tricks LY after playing some solid defense in 2018. They finished the year ranked #12 in the conference in scoring defense (32.5 PPG) and #11 in total defense (411 YPG). They did a good job rushing the passer (30 sacks, #6 C-USA) but didn’t do a good job on 3rd downs (#11 C-USA). Only five starters return this year and they’re definitely gonna miss their star pass rusher DE LaDarius Hamilton who led the team in sacks LY (8.5) and is off to the NFL (Dallas). DT Dion Novil is a good piece to build around but there are definitely concerns up front. They appear set at LB with the return of their top-two tacklers from a season ago (Kd Davis, Tyreke Davis) and those two men also combined to rack up 8 sacks LY. They’ll need to find a way to be better on the back end after picking off a mere 4 (!) passes in 2019 (tied for last FBS).
This has the look of a below-average stop unit. Maybe new DC Clint Bowen will make a difference.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Things look good. PK Ethan Mooney is one of the best in the conference (16/20 FG, 43/44 XP LY) and KR Deion Hair-Griffin is an absolute WEAPON returning kickoffs. He averaged an impossible 41 yards per return (TD) on 12 attempts in 2019. They’ll need to work in a new punter.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – We’ve got 11 games locked in as we approach press time. The opener vs Houston Baptist will be a BLOODBATH but their next two games vs AAC opponents (SMU, at Houston) look like losses to us. Their first two conference games are at home which is a good thing if you believe in getting off to a good start (Southern Miss, Charlotte) but four of their last six games are ON THE HIGHWAY.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at UTSA (November 28th)
This will be their 4th road game in six weeks at UTSA looks to be improved this year. It’s an even worse spot if the season is DOWN THE DRAIN at this point in time. <grabs popcorn>
Season Win Total
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number. <and final schedule>
MEGALOCKS says:
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number.
MEGAmazing Tidbit
North Texas is a poor 2-8 in bowl games and 0-3 under current HC Seth Littrell.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
It seems to us that there are too many question marks on both sides of the ball for the Mean Green to contend for a division title. It’s not easy to break in a new quarterback and it’s even more challenging when you have to replace one of the best players in program history. The defense has a few nice pieces and will need to outperform expectations for this squad to book a winning record.
Want more North Texas Football ?
WEBSITE
https://meangreensports.com/sports/football
FORUM
http://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/forum/4-mean-green-football/
http://meanandgreen.freeforums.org/north-texas-football-forum-f3.html
NEWS
http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/unt-mean-green
https://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/mean_green/
http://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/249/north-texas-mean-green
TWITTER
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