Cincy-Temple
Time: 11 AM CST
Spread: CIN -7
M/L: CIN -270; TEM +230
Total: 57
Betting odds c/o Bovada
Cincinnati has rolled through its AAC schedule with a 5-1 mark thus far and will travel to face Temple this week in a game college football oddsmakers are setting the line 7-points in favor of the Bearcats.
After a tumultuous three-game skid against Ohio State, Memphis and Miami that culminated on Oct 11, the Bearcats have gone on to win its last five contests, all of which were against conference foes, all of which were against poor AAC teams.
Even so, Cincy has compiled some impressive statistics against its lackluster opponents. The Bearcats rank 12th in the nation in passing yardage (308 per game) while boasting the 17th highest scoring offense (37.3 points per game). Last week, Cincy shutout UConn to the tune of 41-0.
QB Gunner Kiel has been a machine this season. He’s thrown for 2,646 yards and 27 TDs, while throwing 11 picks. His passer rating of 153.5 is outstanding, and the 59.9 percent completion ratio is more impressive when taken in the context of Cincy’s rather one-dimensional attack. Kiel’s receiving corp features five WRs with 375 yards or more this season, and Mekale McKay leads the way with 604 yards and seven TDs (including an 80-yard TD reception).
To boot, the Bearcats have one of the best kickers in the nation, Andrew Gantz, who has nailed 14-of-16 this season while hitting all but two of his 45 extra point kicks. He’s 4-of-5 from 40 to 49 yards, as well, with a long kick of 47 yards.
Since its 20-10 victory over then- No. 23 East Carolina, the Temple Owls have dropped two straight to Memphis and Penn State. Temple managed just 13 points last week against the Nittany Lions, a mark that was the same as the week before in the loss to Memphis.
While the Owls do only average 26.1 points per game this season, it’s going to take more than 13 for sure to beat a strong offensive team like Cincinnati, further indicated by college football odds showing a 57 point total in this contest.
The majority of Temple’s offensive attack consists of the connection between P.J. Walker and WR Jalen Fitzpatrick. Walker has thrown just 53.2 percent for completion with a meager 6.06 yards per attempt, but Fitzpatrick has been the most successful target by a good mile. He’s averaged 15.2 yards per catch on 41 receptions and has half of the team’s reception TDs (six of 12).
No. 1 RB Jahad Thomas also functions well as a dual-threat back, as he’s rushed for 376 yards on 76 carries and caught for the second-most yards on the team, as well (259 on 11 catches). Temple’s strength, if there is one, is its defense. The Owls rank 14th in the nation allowing just 19.3 points per game, but without a more potent offense, it isn’t going to equate to much more than .500 seasons like this one.
