Week 9 College Football Picks and Predictions: Temple Owls at Southern Methodist Mustangs

Temple-SMU
Time: 3 PM ET, Oct 26, 2013
Spread: SMU -14
O/U: 62

Odds courtesy of Bovada

SMU is 2-4 on the season and has a 1-1 record in the AAC, but the team will find itself 14-point favorites at home over Temple according to college football oddsmakers at Bovada. The Mustangs have suffered some close losses this season but were victorious last outing 34-29 over Memphis on the road. Garrett Gilbert threw for 321 yards and 2 TDs with one INT and Traylon Shead ran for 83 yards with 2 TDs, as well.

Gilbert has now thrown for 2,096 yards on the season with a 63.2 percent completion ratio and he has 11 TDs to 6 INTs, for a QB rating of 124.1. Shead is the lead back with 174 yards on 46 carries (for a paltry average of 3.8 yards per carry). Gilbert has experienced success with the rush, having scrambled for 121 yards on 60 carries. The SMU offense as a whole has generated just 28.3 points per game this season, though that stat is bolstered by the trouncing from Texas A&M and TCU. The pass offense still generates the 8th most yards in the nation at 354.5 per game, and SMU could really get some numbers cooking against Temple.

The Owls are just 1-6 on the season, primarily due to a very ineffective offense, which generates just 18.9 points per contest. The team did experience a decisive victory over Army 33-14, but has lost by at least two touchdowns in three of its six losses. This week could be no different if college football odds are true.

The Owls have allowed 26.9 points per game and Army rushed for 255 yards on it in the game Temple won. Gilbert will look to exploit the secondary, but it might make sense to get Shead some carries to see if the holes can be exploited in the line.

Temple QB Connor Reilly has been very disappointing and has just a 51.4 percent completion ratio to go with just two touchdowns on the season (and matched with two interceptions). Reilly is a junior but this is his first season passing at the D-1A level, and it hasn’t gone so well. The Temple backs aren’t rushing for big yardage, but Kenneth Harper and Zaire Williams have each managed over 350 yards on the season with average carries of 4.7 and 5.1 yards, respectively. The Owls aren’t a dangerous offensive team but it should be able to exploit Army enough to get the victory in this game. The Owls will receive a tough test on their rush defense by Army’s one-dimensional attack, but should be able secure a much wanted second victory.