North Texas vs Wichita State Prediction 1/11/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Wichita State Shockers and the North Texas Mean Green will meet on Sunday in an American Athletic Conference matchup at Charles Koch Arena in Wichita, Kansas.

Wichita State Shockers Betting Preview

The Wichita State Shockers enter Sunday’s contest with a 9–7 win-loss record, including a 1-2 mark in conference play and a 7–2 mark at home. The Shockers are looking to snap a two‑game losing streak. Wichita State has compiled wins over teams such as UAB, Eastern Kentucky, Wofford and the Northern Iowa Panthers, while dropping games to Charlotte, Rice and the DePaul Blue Demons. Earlier this week, in Wichita State’s 66–64 loss to Rice, Wichita State guard Michael Gray Jr. tallied 25 points (5 of 12 shooting from the field), 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal illustrating his ability to anchor the Shockers backcourt.

The Wichita State Shockers average 77.1 points on 43.7 percent shooting from the field and 35.3 percent shooting from the three-point line per game. On the defensive side of the basketball, the Shockers are allowing opponents 69 points per contest which ranks 59th in the country.

Senior guard Kenyon Giles has been a standout performer for Wichita State, averaging 17.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Senior forward Karon Boyd provides the Mean Green with a strong interior presence averaging 10.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 0.6 blocks per contest.

North Texas Mean Green Betting Preview

The North Texas Mean Green enter Sunday’s contest with a 10–6 record, including a 1-2 mark in conference play and a 1-3 record on the road. North Texas has compiled wins over New Mexico Highlands, Northwestern State, Loyola Chicago, Eastern Washington, and Central Arkansas, while dropping games to Oregon State and Saint Mary’s. In the North Texas Mean Green’s 79–71 win over the Eastern Washington Eagles last month, North Texas guard Je’Shawn Stevenson compiled 26 points on 8 of 16 shooting from the field and 3 of 8 shooting from three-point range showcasing his ability to score the basketball.

The North Texas Mean Green are averaging 65.9 points on 42.2 percent shooting from the field and 30.6 percent shooting from the three‑point line per game. Defensively, the North Texas Mean Green are allowing opponents just 65.4 points per game which ranks 18th in the nation.

Sophomore guard Je’Shawn Stevenson has been a consistent performer for the North Texas Mean Green in 2025, averaging 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.9 assists per game. Senior guard Will McClendon provides the Mean Green with backcourt versatility, averaging 13 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 0.8 steals per contest. Senior forward Dylan Arnett anchors the paint with 8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Why the Wichita State Shockers will win

•             Home court advantage. The Wichita State Shockers are 7–2 at home this season.

•             Quality guard play. Sophomore guard Je’Shawn Stevenson is averaging 16.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.9 assists per game.

Why the North Texas Mean Green will win

•            Elite defense. Through seven games played in the 2025 season, the North Texas Mean Green allow just 65.4 points per game which ranks 18th in the country.

•            Balanced scoring. The Mean Green have three players (Stevenson, McClendon, and Terrell Jr.) averaging over 10.5 points scored per game.

Wichita State vs. North Texas Prediction

In my view, the North Texas Mean Green’s elite defensive structure and ability to control game tempo make this a difficult matchup for the Shockers. The Mean Green rank 18th in the country in opponent points allowed illustrating that the team has a quality defense. Yes, the Shockers have played exceptional at home in 2025, but the team has not faced a defense of the quality of North Texas. With that said, I am backing North Texas plus the 6.5 points in this matchup.

Hans Geevers's Pick: North Texas +6.5