The Omaha Mavericks and the North Texas Mean Green meet Saturday in college basketball action from UNT Coliseum. Omaha is 1-1 so far this year following a game two loss to TCU on Thursday. As for North Texas, they posted a six-point win over Northern Iowa in their first game of the season. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

Omaha Mavericks 

The Mavericks hosted Doane on Monday in their first game of the season. Omaha didn’t have too much difficulty in that one, scoring 45 points in the second half during an 85-53 blowout victory. Tops in scoring was Nick Davis with 14 points and four rebounds. Marquel Sutton added 13 points with four rebounds as well. 

In game two on Thursday, the Mavericks faced a much tougher team in TCU. Omaha was down by 10 points at halftime and didn’t get any closer in an eventual loss 82-60. Frankie Fidler was the lead scorer this time with 20 points and seven rebounds. Davis added 11 points, and Jaeden Marshall put up 10 points in 28 minutes. 

North Texas Mean Green 

Over on the Mean Green side, they posted a great regular-season run in 2022-23, going 31-7 overall with a 16-4 record in Conference USA play for a second-place finish. North Texas lost to UAB in the conference tournament, but ran the table in the NIT—getting revenge over UAB in the final game—for a tournament championship. 

North Texas was able to fend off Northern Iowa in their first game of the 2023-24 season, but it took overtime to do it. The Mean Green outscored the panthers 15-9 in the extra period for an 83-77 win. Aaron Scott was tops in scoring with 26 points and seven rebounds. Jason Edwards had a nice game as well with 19 points. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’ll probably just stay with North Texas. Also probably not touching this one, as you could make a case either way. The Mean Green shot a nice 47.4 percent from the floor, 81.8 percent from the line (18-of-22) and 50 percent (11-of-22) from 3-point range in their opener win over Northern Iowa. The hot shooting saved the team, as they were out-rebounded 39-37 (16-11 offensive) by the Panthers. 

As for Omaha, there wasn’t much chance they were going to hang around with TCU in their second outing—and they didn’t. The Mavericks lost the rebounding battle 52-25 and shot a middling 39.3 percent from the floor in the blowout loss. This matchup is bound to be much closer, but I still like North Texas a little better cover-wise.