Time: Noon EST, Saturday
Spread: PIT -6.5
Total: 47.5
M/L: PIT -260, TEM +220
Betting Odds from Bookmaker
Temple was rolling after scoring big wins over South Florida and UConn, but ran into a stumbling block against then-No. 15 Rutgers. They fell 35-10, but will look to get back on track against a Pittsburgh team that college football oddsmakers favor by almost a touchdown (6.5 points).
So far, the Owls have got it done with a two-part plan: control opposing offenses (24.5 points per game, 53rd in the nation), and run the ball down the throat of opponents. They do not have a balanced attack. The Owls get 167.2 yards per game on the ground (middle of the road), but cannot find any offense passing the ball, where they manage just 122 yards per game and rank near the bottom of NCAA D-1 schools, 120th in the nation.
Their main three backs do most of the damage running the football, with Matt Brown, Chris Coyer and Montel Harris all having ran for 260 yards or more so far this season. The trio has combined for seven rushing TDs, and Harris leads the way with three of those. Harris, a 5’10” senior running back from Jacksonville, had two big games in the Owls wins over the Bulls and Huskies, rushing for 275 yards between the games and scoring two TDs against South Fla and one against UConn.
The 3-4 Pittsburgh Panthers may be able to control that attack. Their defense ranks 39th in the nation, surrendering just 22.4 points per game. In their impressive victory over then-No. 18 Louisville, they held the Cardinals to just 156 rushing yards, controlling dual threat QB Terry Bridgewater and keeping Senorise Perry under control (but still allowing 100+ yards).
The DL will have to be aggressive on Harris this week for the Panthers to emerge victorious as college football oddsmakers believe they will.
TEMPLE BETTING ODDS:
Owls are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 conference games, 6-2 ATS in their last 8 after accumulating less than 170 passing yards, 19-7 ATS in their last 26 after accumulating less than 275 total yards, 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 after scoring less than 20 pts previous week, 14-6 ATS in their last 20 on the road.
PITTSBURGH BETTING ODDS:
Panthers are 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 after allowing 170 passing yards or less, 5-1-1 AT in their last 7 following an SU win, 20-7-2 ATS in their last 29 in OCT, 18-7-1 ATS in their last 26 conference games, and 4-12 ATS in their last 16 after accumulating less than 275 total yards previous week.
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