North Texas Mean Green vs Temple Owls Picks and Predictions for Sunday February 15 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 02/15/2026, 12:20 AM ET

The North Texas Mean Green travel to the Liacouras Center to take on the Temple Owls on Sunday, February 15, 2026. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 PM ET with the game airing on ESPN+. Temple enters this matchup as a 2.5-point favorite, and the total is set at 136.5. At the time of this writing, the moneyline odds were not released. As always, be sure to check out our free college basketball picks for more expert betting analysis and daily selections.

Mean Green Leaning on Defense

North Texas comes into this game at 14-11 overall and 5-7 in AAC play, including a 5-7 conference road record. The Mean Green have won two of their last five games, recently beating Memphis 76-69 and UTSA 81-58 while dropping contests to Rice 86-83 in double overtime, UAB 72-68, and Tulsa 82-66. They’ve been competitive in most games, particularly when they control tempo.

The Mean Green average 70.8 points per game while allowing just 66.3, one of the better defensive marks in the conference. They shoot 43% from the field and grab 34.6 rebounds per game. Offensively, they average 12.6 assists per contest, showing decent ball movement without playing at an overly fast pace.

Defense is clearly North Texas’ identity. They average 4.6 blocks and an impressive 10.0 steals per game, which consistently puts pressure on opposing backcourts. Their ability to force turnovers and limit scoring opportunities makes them dangerous, especially in grind-it-out matchups.

Subscribe Now

I authorize Picks And Parlays to send me promotional emails

I understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. I have read and accepted the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. I consent that Picks And Parlays may use third-party services to process my data.

Terms & Conditions

Owls Seeking Consistency at Home

Temple enters at 15-9 overall and 7-4 in conference play, including a 7-4 AAC home record. The Owls have gone 3-2 in their last five games, recently losing to Tulane 77-66 but picking up wins over ECU 81-73, South Florida 79-78, and UTSA 70-64, with a narrow overtime loss to Charlotte 80-76 also in that stretch. They’ve been competitive in close games, both at home and on the road.

Temple averages 75.2 points per game while allowing 70.7. They shoot 44% from the field and pull down 34.2 rebounds per contest. The Owls also average 13.0 assists per game, indicating a balanced offensive approach.

Temple’s strength lies in their scoring efficiency and interior presence. Averaging 4.3 blocks per game, they protect the rim well, and their ability to score in the mid-70s gives them a slight offensive edge in this matchup. Playing at home should also help stabilize their performance.

North Texas Mean Green vs Temple Owls Pick

North Texas Mean Green vs Temple Owls Spread Pick

Pick: North Texas +2.5

This projects to be a tight contest, and North Texas’ defense gives them real value as a small underdog. Allowing just 66.3 points per game and forcing 10 steals per contest, the Mean Green can disrupt Temple’s offensive rhythm. Getting points in what should be a low-possession game is appealing.

North Texas Mean Green vs Temple Owls Total Pick

Pick: Under 136.5

I’m leaning toward the under in this matchup. North Texas prefers to slow the pace and rely on defense, and Temple isn’t an overly explosive team offensively. With the Mean Green allowing just 66.3 points per game, this feels like a game that stays in the low 130s.

Final Score Prediction: North Texas 69, Temple 66

Betting on College Basketball?

Join Picks and Parlays premium for free and get a free $30 coupon with code FREE30
Get started and wager on college hoops today with our favorite online sportsbooks
Claim a CBB betting bonus offer with the best sportsbook promos