The Temple Owls (+5) are heading southwest to face the Houston Cougars at TDECU Stadium. CBS Sports Network is scheduled to have the TV rights and this important AAC game gets going at 7:00 p.m. ET. When the two teams met a year ago, Houston won by a touchdown 20-13.
Temple Owls at Houston Cougars Betting Preview
The Owls approach this Saturday AAC game as the underdog and are currently getting 5 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline gamblers would currently need to put down $200 to win $100 back on the Cougars (-200). The Owls are getting +170 moneyline odds. Should one side can get out in front in the early stages it will generate a worthwhile in-game betting scenario. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 69 points.
Odds have moved slightly from where they originally opened. The line opened at -5 and the game’s total was placed initially at 68.5.
The Owls are 6-3 against the spread (ATS) and are down 1.1 units so far. The team has posted an O/U record of 4-4. The Cougars have lost 3.4 units this season. The team is 5-4 ATS and the over has hit in six of its games.
The Owls are 5-4 straight up (SU), including 4-1 SU against AAC opponents. The Cougars are 7-2 SU overall and are also 4-1 SU in conference play.
The Owls are trying to get back in stride after a 52-40 defeat to UCF last week. Anthony Russo completed 31 passes for 444 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Ryquell Armstead (142 rushing yards on 27 attempts) and the signal-caller Russo (46 yards on 12 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running attack. Ventell Bryant (seven receptions, 109 yards, two TDs) and Isaiah Wright (five catches, 40 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Back on November 3, SMU knocked off this Houston team by a score of 45-31. The Cougars defense allowed the Mustangs to pass for 318 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 196 yards and two scores. Reggie Roberson, Jr. had a productive outing in the win for SMU, recording 134 yards and a score on nine catches. For Houston, D’Eriq King completed 11-of-22 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Patrick Carr (75 rushing yards on 17 attempts) and the signal-caller King (54 yards on 13 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running attack as Bryson Smith (four receptions, 30 yards) and Marquez Stevenson (three catches, 104 yards, one TD) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Temple has run the ball on 50.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Houston has a rush percentage of 52.9 percent. The Owls have run for 144 yards per game (including 156 per game against American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 13 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Cougars are averaging 232 rush yards per game (216 in conference) and have 23 total rushing TDs.
It appears that the Cougars ought to own an edge when it comes to efficiency in the ground game, as their backfield has logged 5.8 yards per carry while the defense is allowing a YPC of 3.6 to opponents. The Owls have recorded 3.9 yards per carry while allowing 4.3 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Owls offensive scheme has logged 262 yards per game in the air overall (277 per game against conference opposition) and has 18 passing scores so far. The Cougars have produced 316 pass yards per game (284.2 in the AAC) and have 33 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Temple appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has let opponents run for an average of 198 yards and pass for 166 yards per game. The Houston D has allowed 324.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 160.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Owls are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 3.73 to opposing QBs, while the Cougars have allowed a 6.76 ANY/A.
Passing-wise, Russo has amassed 1,617 yards this year. The signal-caller has connected on 59 percent of his 202 attempts with 10 passing scores and nine interceptions. Russo has a 6.52 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.99 over the last two games.
As a group, Ventell Bryant, Randle Jones and Ryquell Armstead have collectively accounted for 480 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns over the last two outings.
In the other huddle, D’Eriq King has completed 152-of-244 passes for 2,159 yards, 25 TDs and three INTs. King’s ANY/A sits at 9.87 for the season and 9.28 across his last two outings.
We also expect the Houston offense to mix it up this Saturday. As a group, Marquez Stevenson, D’Eriq King and Patrick Carr have combined for 551 total yards and six touchdowns over the last two games.
Betting Prediction: Temple Owls at Houston Cougars
SU Winner – Houston, ATS Winner – Houston, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes
The Temple defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 23 times this year. Houston has recorded 18 sacks.
The Houston offense has lost six fumbles this season while the Temple offense has let three get away.
The Owls offense has tallied nine pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Cougars have put up 14 such plays.
The Temple defense has allowed one pass play of 40+ yards, while Houston has given up nine such plays.
The Temple offense has created nine rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Houston has created 21 such runs.
The Owls defense has allowed 16 rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while the Cougars have given up eight such runs.
The Over/Under for Houston’s previous game going into it was 71.5. The over cashed in the team’s 45-31 loss to SMU.
In its last three contests, Houston is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
Over its last three games, Temple is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Temple’s last game was set at 60. The over cashed in the team’s 52-40 loss to UCF.
Temple has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.0 over its last two.
Houston has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over its last three outings and 4.7 over its last two.
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