North Texas Mean Green 2022 College Football Preview
June 26, 2022
2021 Recap
Record – 6-7
ATS – 9-4
“We’re going streaking!” <Frank the Tank> <Old School> <2003>
Everything seemed completely normal after the Mean Green dismantled something known as Northwestern St in their opener (W 44-14) but they proceeded to go on a six-game losing streak. All looked lost, but they somehow found the MINERALS to rattle off five wins in a row, and that included a convincing victory over eventual conference champ UTSA (W 45-23). Miami Ohio took them down in the Frisco Bowl (L 27-14) and they finished with a losing record for the third season in a row.
North Texas Mean Green 2022 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Mean Green posted their lowest PPG mark (27.5, #84 FBS) since 2016 LY and the main culprit was an unbelievably inefficient THROW GAME (#122 FBS pass efficiency). North Texas completed just 51.8% of their passes (#122) and it’ll be interesting to see if newcomer Grant Gunnell (Arizona, dnp 2021) can win the starting QB gig. Five of their top-six players in terms of receiving yards are back in the mix and we expect more from the THROW GAME in 2022. One thing we don’t have to worry about is a ground attack that’s been phenomenal L2Y (233 YPG LY, #5 FBS) although losing #1 RB DeAndre Torrey (1,215, 13 TD) is a tough blow. The RB room is still extremely deep and remember that Oscar Adaway was really good during the 2020 SCAMDEMIC season (572, 5.8, 3 TD in 7G) . The OL should be excellent as they bring back four starters to a successful unit that allowed just 17 sacks LY whilst displaying impressive run-blocking prowess. We expect a lot more out of the offense as long as one of the three experienced QBs can be half-decent.
DEFENSE
North Texas exceeded our expectations on defense LY and allowed a respectable 27.5 PPG (#7 C-USA) and 383 YPG (#6 C-USA). They also achieved impressive PENETRATION (38 sacks, #2 C-USA). The Mean Green bring back just five starters on this side of the football but they still have five of the top-seven tacklers back for battle including star LB KD Davis who is a tackling and disruption MACHINE (121 tackles, 16 TFL, 7 QBH LY). They’re experienced on the back end but the big concern is a DL that lost all four starters including the Murphy brothers who combined for 15.5 (!) sacks in 2021. It’s gonna be tough sledding if they can’t find a way to get to the QB.
SPECIAL TEAMS
There’s continuity in the kicking game with the return of PK Ethan Mooney (11/13 FG, 40-40 XP LY) and punter Bernardo Rodriguez. The prospects for the return game don’t look great with the departure of DeAndre Torrey.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Things get interesting right off the bat when they travel to face C-USA rival UTEP in El Paso on August 27th. There aren’t any BODY BAG games in non-conference play but facing SMU and Memphis won’t be easy. The schedule-maker played a cruel joke on the Mean Green as they draw the top-four C-USA teams and EACH of those tilts takes place on the road.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing overly-heinous is noted.
Season Win Total
Per BetOnline June 26
Over 6.5 +100
Under 6.5 -130
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
The road schedule is brutal and North Texas has a putrid mark of 18-43 (.295) ON THE HIGHWAY L10Y.
MEGAmazing Tidbit
Bowl games have treated these guys like a RED-HEADED STEPCHILD. The Mean Green are just 2-10 in postseason play and have lost five straight since their 36-14 win over UNLV in the 2013 Heart of Dallas Bowl. Everyone remembers that timeless classic.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
GET CHO POPCONE. There promises to be excitement and plenty of points in North Texas games if we are to believe what we see on paper. The offense will be one of the most lethal in the conference but we fear the defense will take a moderate step backwards. And it’s not like we can trust the coaching or their ability to win on the road. Our CONFERENCE USA DEEP INSIDERS CALL for 5-6 wins. In any event, Go Mean Green!
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