It will be a battle between AAC opponents when the Temple Owls (10-10, 2-6 AAC) welcome the Connecticut Huskies (11-9, 4-3 AAC) to Liacouras Center. The game starts at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 28, 2018, and will air on ESPN2.
Temple opened as a 6-point favorite, while the Over/Under (O/U) for the game has been set at 128.5 points.
Connecticut Huskies at Temple Owls Free Prediction
In the Huskies’ last game, they defeated the SMU Mustangs, 63-52. The Huskies held the Mustangs to an effective field goal percentage of 0.342 (below their season average of 0.550) and had a better free throw rate (0.235 vs. 0.228). With 20 points on 6-for-14 shooting, Christian Vital was the top scorer from either team.
The Owls were blown out by the No. 12 Cincinnati Bearcats in their last outing, 75-42. Cincinnati’s turnover percentage was their biggest advantage over Temple. The Bearcats had a rate of 15.3 (worse than their season average of 15.1), while the Owls posted a mark of 24.1 (above their season average of 14.5). Temple’s Ernest Aflakpui put up seven points and five rebounds in the game.
Connecticut holds records of 11-9 straight up (SU) and 7-10 against the spread (ATS). Of the Huskies’ 16 games with betting action, nine have finished under the projected point total.
Meanwhile, Temple is 10-10 SU and 9-11 ATS. Games involving the Owls also tend to go under the projected point total (55.0 percent).
Vital has averaged 15.2 points and 3.0 steals over the last five games for Connecticut.
After the Huskies won both meetings against the Owls last season, this will be the first matchup of the year between these two teams. In the last matchup, Connecticut won 64-63. The Huskies had a better offensive rebounding percentage (29.6 vs. 25.0) and had a better effective field goal percentage (0.551 vs. 0.510).
Connecticut Huskies at Temple Owls Free Pick
Pick: SU Winner – Connecticut, ATS Winner – Connecticut, O/U – Under
Notes
Betting Notes:
Connecticut is 4-5 ATS on the road with 5 unders and 4 overs.
Temple is 2-6 ATS at home with 4 overs and 4 unders.
Temple ranks 104th in three pointers allowed per game (21.0) while Connecticut ranks 246th (25.1).
The Huskies rank 111th in rebounds per game (36.5) while the Owls rank 232nd in rebounds allowed per game (38.0).
Temple ranks 225th in assists per game (12.0) while Connecticut ranks 268th (9.8).
The Huskies rank 49th in steals allowed per game (5.4) while the Owls rank 91st (6.0).
Connecticut ranks 77th in blocks per game (4.0) while Temple ranks 102nd in blocks allowed per game (3.4).
Bettings Trends:
In their last five games, Connecticut is 3-2 ATS with 5 unders.
Temple is 2-3 ATS with 4 unders and 1 over over their last five games.
The Huskies’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 2.8, down from 2.9 for the season.
During their last five games, the Owls have scored an average of 59.8 points per game (6.8 below their season average) and allowed an average of 64.6 points per game (4.4 below their season average).
