The Temple Owls (-2) are traveling south to visit their in-conference rival South Florida Bulls at Raymond James Stadium. The game gets going at 8:00 p.m. ET and spectators can watch the action live on ESPN.
Betting Preview: Temple Owls vs. South Florida Bulls
In this Thursday American Athletic Conference game, Temple is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 2 points. The Owls are also receiving -130 moneyline odds while the Bulls are +110. This AAC matchup should provide several decent in-game betting possibilities, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 53 points.
The original odds have shifted, as the opening line was 1. The game’s over/under has yet to move after it was initially set at 53.
The Owls are down 3.9 units so far and 4-4 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 5-3.
The Bulls have lost 0.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 5-3 ATS and also own an O/U record of 5-3.
The Owls are 5-3 straight up (SU), including 2-2 SU against conference opponents. The Bulls are 4-4 SU overall and 2-2 SU in conference play.
The Owls fell to UCF 63-21 in a thumping where the passing game the big culprit as the Owls completed 16-of-31 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Anthony Russo went 12-for-24 for 199 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions while Todd Centeio completed three-of-six for 22 yards. Re’Mahn Davis (just 26 rushing yards on 12 attempts) and Jager Gardner (13 yards on 11 carries, one TD) led the ground attack while Branden Mack (five receptions, 104 yards, one TD) and Isaiah Wright (two catches, 31 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
The South Florida Bulls just earned a lopsided 45-20 win over East Carolina. The team’s defense let the Pirates run for 102 yards on 38 rush attempts. C.J. Johnson had a productive showing in the loss for East Carolina, posting 85 yards and a score on five catches. As a group, the Bulls collectively completed 16-of-25 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Jordan McCloud went nine-for-12 for 102 yards and two touchdowns while Kirk Rygol was six-of-12 for 74 yards and one touchdown. Jordan Cronkrite (129 rushing yards on 12 attempts, two TDs) mounted the running game as Randall St. Felix (five receptions, 79 yards, one TD) and Jacob Mathis (four catches, 40 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Temple has run the ball on 51.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while South Florida has an overall rush percentage of 56.6 percent. The Owls have produced 138.5 rush yards per game (including 136 per game versus American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 11 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Bulls are totaling 180.5 rushing yards per game (216 in conference) and have 12 total rush TDs.
If 2019 results are any indication, then it appears the Owls ought to hold an edge in the trenches. Their offensive line has given up just 18 sacks while their D-line logged 35 sacks. The Bulls offensive line has allowed 38 sacks and their defense has sacked opposing QBs on just 29 occasions.
The Owls offense has averaged 263.8 yards through the air overall (235.3 per game against conference opposition) and has 17 passing scores so far. The Bulls have produced 172.9 pass yards per game (193 in the AAC) and have 16 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Temple has allowed 167.5 rush yards and 235.4 pass yards per game. The South Florida defense has given up 185.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 199.1 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bulls are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.97 to opposing QBs, while the Owls have allowed a 5.91 ANY/A.
Offensively, Russo has put up 1,702 passing yards this year, and has completed 58 percent of his 242 attempts with 15 passing scores and eight interceptions. He’s got a 6.21 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.17 over the last two outings.
Branden Mack, Re’Mahn Davis and Jadan Blue have collectively accounted for 350 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns as a trio over the last two outings.
For the home team, Jordan McCloud has managed to complete 58-of-101 passes for 726 yards, 10 TDs and five INTs. McCloud’s ANY/A sits at 5.55 for the season and 3.38 over his last two outings.
Similar to the Owls, expect a balanced approach offensively from South Florida this Thursday. Jordan Cronkrite (512 rushing yards, four rush TDs on the year), Randall St. Felix (151 receiving yards, two receiving TDs) and Jahquez Evans (122 rush yards, one rush TD, zero receiving yards) have combined to account for 428 total yards and four touchdowns over the last couple of games.
When these two programs met last year, Temple emerged victorious by a final score of 27-17.
Temple Owls vs. South Florida Bulls Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Temple, ATS Winner: Temple, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Temple’s last game going into it was 61.5. The over cashed in the team’s 63-21 loss to UCF.
- Temple has averaged 2.5 yards per rush attempt across its last three contests and 1.6 over its last two.
- South Florida has averaged 6.1 yards per carry over its last three games and 6.5 over its past two.
- The South Florida offense has lost five fumbles this season while Temple has lost seven.
- In its last three contests, Temple is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- The O/U for South Florida’s last matchup was set at 51. The over cashed in that 45-20 victory over East Carolina.
- In its last three contests, South Florida is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- South Florida has won four of its last five games SU, with a -32-point defeat to Navy on October 19th accounting for the only loss over that stretch.
- The Owls offense has registered five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Bulls have put up four such plays.
- The Temple defense has allowed seven pass plays of 40 or more yards, while South Florida has given up zero such plays.
- The Temple offense has created four rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while South Florida has created 19 such runs.
- The Owls defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bulls have given up 12 such runs.
- Each team defense has produced 20 sacks this year.
