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UNLV vs. North Texas Heart of Dallas Bowl Betting Predictions & Preview

UNLV vs North Texas NCAA Football Handicapping

The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels and North Texas Mean Green will face off in the Heart of Dallas Bowl in Cotton Bowl Stadium on New Year’s Day.

2014 Heart Of Dallas Bowl
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels (7-5) vs. North Texas Mean Green (8-4)
Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Venue: Cotton Bowl Stadium
City: Dallas, Texas
O/U Odds: 54.5
Spread: North Texas -6.5
Money Line: North Texas -245, UNLV +205
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Neither team qualified for the postseason a year ago when they combined to win a total of six games, with the Rebels having picked up just four wins in their previous two seasons.

North Texas began the season at 2-3 but closed out the year on a 6-1 run, most recently with a 42-10 beat down on Tulsa to close out their regular season.

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The Mean Green quietly put together a solid season defensively, ranking ninth in the FBS in scoring defense. The unit got even stronger when it mattered most as they held opponents to touchdowns in just 45.5 percent of their red zone opportunities, the sixth-best mark in the nation. That unit played a big role in that win over Tulsa, limiting the Golden Hurricane to just 236 yards and 10 points in a 42-10 win.
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Running back Brandin Byrd was the star of the show for the team’s offense in that one, running the ball 26 times for 251 yards and three touchdowns, including a 91-yards score. Behind him was Antoinne Jimmerson who carried the ball 12 times for 85 yards and two scores. In total, the team churned out 377 yards and five scores on 50 totes.

Defensively, the team limited Tulsa to 3.5 yards per carry on the ground, while forcing two interceptions when the Golden Hurricane took to the air.

As for UNLV, they’ve come a long way since starting the season 0-2, winning four in a row, but they then closed the year going 3-3 in their final six games. The team did close out their season with a big win though, beating up on San Diego State, 45-19.

Quarterback Caleb Herring led the way in that one, completing 20 of 30 passes for 270 yards and five scores, adding 60 yards and a sixth score on the ground. He and Devante Davis were really on the same page in that one as the duo hooked up on eight passes for 171 yards and four scores. In total, UNLV outgained San Diego State 401-327 in the contest, also forcing the only two turnovers of the game.

Both teams should be happy about the strides forward they took this season, improving after some low points in recent years, but only one side can end their season on a high note. North Texas enters in better form and their defense has been lights out in recent weeks, so give them the edge.

The Mean Green are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games overall.

The play: North Texas -6.5

By Gino Bottero

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