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The McNeese State Cowboys take on the North Texas Mean Green in Denton, Texas. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
McNeese is favored by -2.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -142. The total is set at 138.5 points.
Here's my McNeese vs. North Texas predictionand college basketball picks for November 5, 2026.
Pick: McNeese ML -126
My McNeese vs North Texas best betis on the Cowboys moneyline. Be sure to find the best lines by using our live NCAAB odds page and download the Action Network app for the latest picks and analysis.
McNeese vs North Texas spread:McNeese -2.5 (-105), North Texas +2.5 (-115)
McNeese vs North Texas over/under:138.5 (-108o / -112u)
McNeese vs North Texas moneyline:McNeese -142, North Texas +120
Bill Armstrong did not disappoint last season, as McNeese finished 28-6. This season, he returns just one starter from a year ago, but it's a big one in sophomore Larry Johnson.
Johnson averaged 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while starting 26 of the team's 34 games as a freshman.
Outside of Johnson, McNeese returns just one other player, senior guard Carl Cherenfant, who averaged 4.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game last season.
Armstrong brings in six power-conference transfers, including Corey Chest, Alier Maluk and Christian Nitu. All three are looking to bounce back after being highly regarded recruits coming out of high school.
Johnson should easily be one of the best players in the Southland Conference, and year two of the Armstrong era should be even brighter than the first.
Daniyal Robinson's Year One was an absolute mess, but he managed the hell out of that Mean Green team, finishing with a 19-14 record. Robinson was given very little to work with, battled injuries throughout the season and still managed to put together a winning record.
On top of that, he recorded the best mark by a first-year head coach in program history.
In year two, Robinson returns his leading scorer, Je'Shawn Stevenson, who averaged 15 points and four rebounds per game while shooting 54.5% from the floor.
He also brings back Reece Robinson and Cole Franklin.
However, his biggest addition this offseason is none other than former UT Arlington guard "Cash" Chavis, who averaged 10.5 points and 3.5 assists per game last season.
Everything being said about this team has been positive. The energy is there, and the returning product looks very promising. Before long, Coach Robinson may no longer have to worry about filling Ross Hodge's shoes.
I have a major soft spot for the Mean Green. Check out my Action Network author page , and you'll see why.
However, it's hard for me to back a team that played Colorado well in an exhibition before turning around and losing to Northwestern State.
The Mean Green dropped both preseason matchups, which could mean absolutely nothing. But opening the season with a gimme, winning 122-50, before having to prepare for a very good Cowboys squad just three days later could be a tough turnaround.
The Mean Green aren't particularly talented offensively, and the jump from a non-Division I opponent to a top-75 team will be a shock to the system.
McNeese played LSU in an exhibition, losing by just three points, before taking down Southern 90-76. The Cowboys then opened the regular season with a convincing 99-78 win over UAB.
This McNeese team is loaded with scorers. Despite how slowly these teams play, if you can't put points on the board, you're going to get left behind.
The Mean Green will lean on their defense to keep this one close, but McNeese should ultimately come out on top.
Pick: McNeese ML -126
