Two teams that like to run the football, Head Coach Geoff Collins and the Temple Owls (+29) are gearing up to face off against the Connecticut Huskies at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. This conference matchup starts at 3:30 p.m. ET and ESPNU is in line to have the TV rights.
Temple Owls vs. Connecticut Huskies Betting Preview
Temple is significantly favored here and is currently giving up 29 points to Connecticut. If the Huskies seize momentum early it will create a decent betting opportunity in-game. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 68 points.
The opening line was 28.5 while the total hasn’t moved since it opened at 68.
The Owls are 7-4 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 1.3 units so far. The team has posted an O/U record of 5-5. The Huskies have lost 4.0 units this season. The team is 3-8 ATS and has an O/U record of 6-4.
The Owls are 7-4 straight up (SU), including 6-1 SU against conference opponents. The Huskies are 1-10 SU overall and 0-7 SU in conference play.
When these two squads met a year ago, Connecticut got the victory 28-24.
Connecticut comes into this matchup on a zero-game winning streak while Temple has lost each of its last zero. The Owls just got a 27-17 win over South Florida last week where Anthony Russo completed 20-of-34 passes for 264 yards and one interception. Ryquell Armstead (64 yards on 26 rush attempts, one TD) led the ground attack. Ventell Bryant (four receptions, 76 yards) and Branden Mack (three catches, 41 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Connecticut just dropped a 55-21 game to East Carolina. The team’s defense let the Pirates kill the clock by rushing for 415 yards on 54 attempts, including three rush TDs. Holton Ahlers had a good showing in the win, recording 130 rushing yards and a score on 12 attempts for East Carolina. As a group, the Huskies collectively completed 17-of-33 passes for 183 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. David Pindell went 15-for-25 for 156 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while Brandon Bisack was one-of-seven for 11 yards and one interception. Pindell (3 yards on 15 rush attempts) and Kevin Mensah (88 yards on 14 carries) mounted the running game while Hergy Mayala (six receptions, 35 yards, one TD) and Tyler Davis (four catches, 66 yards, two TDs) led all Connecticut pass-catchers in the loss.
Temple has run the ball on 53.0 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 55.4 percent across possessions in conference play. Connecticut has an overall rush percentage of 57.8 percent, and has kept it on the ground 53.9 percent of the time when facing AAC opponents. The Owls have produced 153 rush yards per game (including 166 per game against American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 22 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Huskies are putting up 207 rush yards per game (209 in conference) and have 16 total rushing TDs.
It seems like the Owls ought to have the more disruptive lines up front. Their offensive line has yielded only 20 sacks while the D-line registered 39 sacks. The Huskies offensive line has allowed 35 sacks and their defense has logged only 23 sacks.
The Owls offensive scheme has averaged 259 yards in the air overall (268 per game versus conference opposition) and has 18 passing scores so far. The Huskies have produced 186 pass yards per outing (203.6 against AAC foes) and have 19 total pass TDs.
Temple should possess an edge in both areas of the defense. The team’s allowed opponents to rush for an average of 197 yards and throw for 172 yards per game. The Connecticut D has allowed 287.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 338.8 yards per game on the ground. The Owls are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 3.86 to opposing QBs, while the Huskies have allowed an ugly 11.42 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Russo has put up 2,118 yards on the year, and has completed 57 percent of his 277 attempts with 13 passing scores and 13 interceptions. He has a 6.07 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 7.02 over the last two games.
As a group, Ryquell Armstead, Ventell Bryant and Branden Mack have combined to account for 547 total yards and seven touchdowns over the last couple of outings.
On the other sideline, David Pindell has completed 149-of-253 passes for 1,658 yards, 14 TDs and nine INTs. Pindell’s ANY/A stands at 5.26 for the year and 5.40 over his past two outings.
Similar to the Owls, expect a balanced attack offensively from Connecticut this Saturday. As a group, Kevin Mensah, David Pindell and Aaron McLean have combined to account for 567 total yards and three touchdowns the last two outings.
RELATED: Week 13 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: Temple Owls at Connecticut Huskies
SU Winner – Connecticut, ATS Winner – Connecticut, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Over/Under for Temple’s last game was set at 62.5. The under cashed in the team’s 27-17 victory over South Florida.
As a team, Temple has averaged 4.2 yards per carry over its past three games and 3.9 over its last two.
Connecticut has averaged 5.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 5.8 over its last two.
The Connecticut offense has lost 10 fumbles this season while Temple has let five get away.
In its last three games, Temple is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
Temple has won six of its last seven games SU, with a 12-point loss to UCF on November 1st accounting for the only defeat over that span.
The Over/Under for Connecticut’s last outing going into it was 70. The over cashed in the team’s 55-21 defeat to East Carolina.
In its last three contests, Connecticut is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
The Owls offense has created 11 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Huskies have accounted for five such plays.
The Temple defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Connecticut has given up 12 such plays.
The Temple offense has created 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Connecticut has created 19 such runs.
The Owls defense has allowed 20 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Huskies have given up 51 such runs.
The Temple defensive unit has 28 sacks on the year while Connecticut has just 11.
+++++
