Date: Oct. 10
Time: 6 p.m.
Spread: Temple -3
O/U: 47
*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
Temple football is finally playing its first game of the 2020 college football season. It only took until Week 6. The Owls will actually be the last team in the AAC to play its first game. Temple fans can only say…
Navy, on the other hand, has already played in three games, going 1-2 with a most recent loss at Air Force 40-7. The Midshipmen run the triple option, which usually means they have no problem putting up points. However, through three games, Navy is averaging 12.3 points per game and only accumulated four touchdowns.
Navy has struggled on third down, going 12 of 41, which is 29.3%, low for a heavy rushing attack. The Midshipmen must also improve on their 3.2 yards per rush attempt. Further, Navy has really struggled to find consistent quarterback play as four QBs have already taken snaps so far this season. Junior Tyger Goslin ended the last game, but Dalen Morris is set as Navy’s starting quarterback. On the other side of the ball, the Navy defense has been equally ugly allowing 39.7 points and 454.3 yards per game.
Temple finished the 2019 season with an 8-5 and went 2-3 on the road. This is a Temple team that is returning a lot of its offense from a year ago. Senior QB Anthony Russo had 2,861 passing yards with 21 touchdowns, albeit with a below-average 58.7 completion percentage. Russo has his dynamic duo at wide receiver as both Jaden Blue and Brandon Mack return. Blue was a 1,000-yard receiver. He and Mack combined for 11 touchdowns last year.
Expectations are high for sophomore Rehahn Davis, who gained nearly 1,000 yards rushing in his freshman campaign finishing just short at 936 yards with eight touchdowns. Temple lost a lot of the defensive side of the ball, and only 38% of its defensive production is coming back. Look for players like Ifeanyi Maijeh, Arnold Ekbiketie and Amir Tyler to step up.
Prior to the season, I would have predicted a Navy win. However, Navy hasn’t looked good on both sides of the ball. Also, Temple won the last three meetings. Temple is 12-5 against the spread in its last 17 road games, while Navy is 7-2 ATS in its last 9 home games. The road team is 5-1 ATS. Temple is 4-0 ATS vs Navy in their last four meetings.
Based on recent history, expect Temple to start slowly since it hasn’t played yet this season, then pull away late. The triple-option is very hard to prepare for but second-year head coach Rod Carey and his staff had months and three games worth of this season’s tape to prepare. Temple wins a close one. Temple 31 Navy 24
Hi, my name is Jason Greene I am a 21-year-old college student at Temple University. My dream goal is to become a sports radio host. I host my own podcast called NoBlockSports and I am a content creator for TheWooderboys podcast.