TALE OF THE TAPE North Texas Mean Green Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Record 9-5 → 13-1
Off Rating #293 → #4
Def Rating #35 ← #106
eFG% 50.2% → 58.4%
3PT% 31.5% → 39.8%
Key Injuries McClendon (OUT) Ford Jr. (GTD) Gary's Take
Tulsa is a juggernaut right now. Eric Konkol has this team playing at a level that the American Athletic Conference isn't used to seeing. They aren't just winning; they are dismantling teams with the fourth-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the country. When you look at a team shooting nearly 60% effective field goal percentage, you're looking at a group that doesn't beat itself. Tylen Riley and David Green have been the catalysts, but it's the ball security—only 10 turnovers a game—that really separates them. North Texas is going to try to make this a rock fight. That's what they do at the Super Pit. Daniyal Robinson has kept that defensive identity alive, and they are elite at running teams off the three-point line. But here's the problem: you can't win if you can't score. The Mean Green are ranked 293rd in offensive efficiency. Je'Shawn Stevenson is a talent, but he doesn't have enough help to keep pace with a Tulsa team that can put up 90 points in their sleep. The market is giving a lot of respect to the North Texas home court and their historical dominance over Tulsa, but this isn't the same Golden Hurricane team from years past. Tulsa's ability to space the floor and knock down shots from deep will eventually break the Mean Green's no-easy-looks defense. Once Tulsa gets a two-possession lead, North Texas simply doesn't have the perimeter shooting to mount a comeback. I'm riding with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane ML -162 to handle business in Denton.
TALE OF THE TAPE
North Texas Mean Green Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Record 9-5 → 13-1
Off Rating #293 → #4
Def Rating #35 ← #106
eFG% 50.2% → 58.4%
3PT% 31.5% → 39.8%
Key Injuries McClendon (OUT) Ford Jr. (GTD)
Gary's Take
Tulsa is a juggernaut right now. Eric Konkol has this team playing at a level that the American Athletic Conference isn't used to seeing. They aren't just winning; they are dismantling teams with the fourth-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the country. When you look at a team shooting nearly 60% effective field goal percentage, you're looking at a group that doesn't beat itself. Tylen Riley and David Green have been the catalysts, but it's the ball security—only 10 turnovers a game—that really separates them.
North Texas is going to try to make this a rock fight. That's what they do at the Super Pit. Daniyal Robinson has kept that defensive identity alive, and they are elite at running teams off the three-point line. But here's the problem: you can't win if you can't score. The Mean Green are ranked 293rd in offensive efficiency. Je'Shawn Stevenson is a talent, but he doesn't have enough help to keep pace with a Tulsa team that can put up 90 points in their sleep.
The market is giving a lot of respect to the North Texas home court and their historical dominance over Tulsa, but this isn't the same Golden Hurricane team from years past. Tulsa's ability to space the floor and knock down shots from deep will eventually break the Mean Green's no-easy-looks defense. Once Tulsa gets a two-possession lead, North Texas simply doesn't have the perimeter shooting to mount a comeback. I'm riding with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane ML -162 to handle business in Denton.
The pick & result
Published pick
Tulsa Golden Hurricane ML -162
Published odds
-162
Result
Lost
Final score
67-72
Odds are the American price printed with this pick, not a current offer. Wins, losses and pushes remain on the public record; a missing grade is not a win.
The read
TALE OF THE TAPE
North Texas Mean Green Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Record 9-5 → 13-1
Off Rating #293 → #4
Def Rating #35 ← #106
eFG% 50.2% → 58.4%
3PT% 31.5% → 39.8%
Key Injuries McClendon (OUT) Ford Jr. (GTD)
Gary's Take
Tulsa is a juggernaut right now. Eric Konkol has this team playing at a level that the American Athletic Conference isn't used to seeing. They aren't just winning; they are dismantling teams with the fourth-best adjusted offensive efficiency in the country. When you look at a team shooting nearly 60% effective field goal percentage, you're looking at a group that doesn't beat itself. Tylen Riley and David Green have been the catalysts, but it's the ball security—only 10 turnovers a game—that really separates them.
North Texas is going to try to make this a rock fight. That's what they do at the Super Pit. Daniyal Robinson has kept that defensive identity alive, and they are elite at running teams off the three-point line. But here's the problem: you can't win if you can't score. The Mean Green are ranked 293rd in offensive efficiency. Je'Shawn Stevenson is a talent, but he doesn't have enough help to keep pace with a Tulsa team that can put up 90 points in their sleep.
The market is giving a lot of respect to the North Texas home court and their historical dominance over Tulsa, but this isn't the same Golden Hurricane team from years past. Tulsa's ability to space the floor and knock down shots from deep will eventually break the Mean Green's no-easy-looks defense. Once Tulsa gets a two-possession lead, North Texas simply doesn't have the perimeter shooting to mount a comeback. I'm riding with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane ML -162 to handle business in Denton.
About this analysis
Who made it
Gary AI, an AI sports-analysis product operated by Gary A.I. LLC. No human reviewer is claimed unless one is explicitly named.
Published data
Daily picks first stored January 4, 2026 at 10:17 AM ET.
Odds record
The pick receipt shows the price printed in the published ticket. The matchup market and line ladder provide separate market context. Source names were not retained with this pick.
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