The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl pits North Texas vs. Texas State at 4:00 p.m. ET on Thursday afternoon. With the Bobcats laying 13.5 points and the total sitting at 62.5, what’s the smart bet today at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, TX?
Game Matchup & Betting Odds
North Texas Mean Green (+13.5) at Texas State Bobcats (-13.5); o/u 62.5
4:00 p.m. ET, Friday, January 3, 2025
Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Dallas, TX
TV: ESPN
North Texas vs. Texas State Bowl Public Betting: Bettors Favoring Dog
As of this writing, our CFB Public Betting page shows that 56% of bets are on North Texas. That said, this page is updated frequently so make sure that you click on the link provided so that you’re getting the most updated information.
Morris leaves North Texas for Virginia
Chandler Morris committed to Virginia on Monday, Pete Thamel of ESPN reports. Virginia is an ACC team part of a Power conference, which he was not part of during 2024. However, it was his best year yet. While enrolled at North Texas then, Morris logged 322 completions for 3,774 yards and 31 touchdowns. He also recorded 60 carries for 242 yards and four TDs on the ground.
Mahdi leaving Texas State for Arizona
Ismail Mahdi has announced his commitment to Arizona, Hayes Fawcett of On3.com reports. Madhi will make the move to the Big 12 following two standout seasons with Texas State. Across 25 games with the Bobcats, the 5-foot-9 185lbs running back logged 406 carries for 2,322 yards (5.74 avg.), and 14 rushing touchdowns, adding on 44 receptions for 470 yards and three receiving touchdowns. Mahdi has proven himself with high-level production with a smaller program and will look to translate his talent into a feature role within Arizona’s offense next season.
North Texas vs. Texas State Bowl Betting Trends
The total has gone OVER in 7 of North Texas’s last 10 games
North Texas is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Texas State’s last 5 games
North Texas vs. Texas State Bowl Prediction
Take Texas State. The Mean Green haven’t covered a number since losing 52-44 at Memphis as an 11-point underdog on October 19. That’s a span of six consecutive games without posting an ATS victory. They didn’t even qualify for a bowl until knocking off Temple 24-17 in their final regular season game – a matchup in which they were favored by 11.5.
Granted, it’s not as if Texas State is Notre Dame, but at least the Bobcats finished with wins in three out of their last four games. They covered in three out of those four games as well. Granted, one of those SU and ATS losses was against Georgia State, whom the Bobcats were favored to beat by 23.5. Still, they have more life heading into today’s bowl than North Texas.
North Texas vs. Texas State Bowl Prediction: Texas State Bobcats -13.5