Temple at Boston College
Time: 11 AM CT
Spread: BC -13.5
Total: 54

Odds c/o 5dimes

Boston College suffered its first loss of the season last week, falling 13-30 to Purdue. This week the Eagles travel to Temple to face the Owls as 13.5-point favorites at 11 AM (CT) on ESPNU. The over/under is set at 54 points according to college football oddsmakers at bookmaker 5dimes

BOSTON COLLEGE

Boston College has been outstanding offensively thus far, but mediocre on the defensive end. Easy matchups against UMass and Holy Cross have bolstered its statistics, but the more telling games in week 3 (against Wake Forest) and last week revealed some hidden issues with its defensive unit. Purdue quarterback David Blough exploited the secondary with his 21 of 28 (75 percent) passing and 296 yards, three touchdowns. Purdue was less effective against the Eagles rushing the ball, but it hardly mattered with the cornerbacks missing so much coverage.

Moreover, BC Quarterback Anthony Brown struggled mightily in his own right, completing less than half of his passes and launching four interceptions in one game. There are more than a few things to address this week against Temple, but the Owls are not a tough enough opponent that working on ironing those things out will prove to be impossible, and the Eagles will need the tune-up before facing NC State, Louisville and No. 16 Miami over the next three weeks. It is through the easy part of its schedule, but not unscathed.

TEMPLE

The Temple Owls have won two-straight after beginning its season 0-2. Week 3 and 4 wins over Maryland and Tulsa were done in convincing fashion, outscoring the opponents by a combined score of 66 to just 31. Temple could be on the rise.

It still has something of a quarterback controversy, though that matter is becoming more clear now. Senior Frank Nutile has sat out back-to-back weeks with an undisclosed injury, but he might suit up this week, and Temple needs it in light of the struggles Anthony Russo has endured. Russo has completed just 49 percent of his passes and thrown three interceptions in two games, with just one passing TD to his credit. If not for the workhorse that Ryquell Armstead is in the backfield, and Temple’s stingy defense in those wins, Temple easily could be winless.

Armstead has rushed a team-high 78 times for 364 yards, though he has just one TD thus far. Ventell Bryant and Branden Mack are the top-two receivers with a combined 320 yards. Mack has caught a team-leading two touchdowns, and Freddie Johnson has been great for long routes with five catches averaging 23.0 yards per. Temple could put a scare into Boston College, but the Eagles are more likely to find a way to address its issues against a weaker opponent and emerge as oddsmakers project.

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