Temple at Cincinnati – College Football Predictions
The Game
Let’s get it on, yo.
It’s a battle for survival on Friday night as Temple visits Cincinnati. Both teams have been disappointing this season yet BOTH still have bowl season aspirations. Temple is sitting at 4-5 and need to win two games to become bowl eligible. One game is against UCF so it is safe to assume that they need this game. The Bearcats are sitting at 3-6 but have two cupcakes after this week. VERY much alive.
The Details
Temple -2.5 Cincinnati (47.5)
MEGALOCKS LINE – Temple -4
Sagarin Ratings – Temple -2.5
“Vegas” Implied Projected Score: Temple 25 Cincinnati 22.5
Massey Ratings Projected Score: Temple 23 Cincinnati 17
The Match-Up
Temple offense vs Cincinnati defense
The season-saver ? QB Frank Nutile has been a yuuuuuge upgrade over Logan Marchi at QB. Nutile has completed 66% of his passes at 9 yards per attempt with a fine 5-2 TD to INT ratio in his two starts. Marchi ? 56%. 6.77/attempt. 9-8 TD to INT. The job is now in the hands of Mr Nutile and he has a potentially devastating set of WRs with which to MATRCIULATE in the passing game. They have four legit playmakers out there and last season’s #1 Ventell Bryant is back in the mix this week after missing last week’s game (disciplinary). The running game has been “meh” behind an inconsistent offensive line but RB R Armstead is a legit #1 and all-UNIVERSE FB Nick Sharga should be able to clear some holes and help the Owls maintain some balance. The Bearcats are ranked #106 in the FBS in run defense and #116 in pass efficiency defense (only 3 INT all season). You want PENETRATION ? Sorry. Only 9 (!) sacks all year. Nutile was not touched last week vs Navy and he should be able to sit back there in a lawn chair and get the ball out to his playmakers. It seems that Temple should score more than enough to win unless there are turnover problems. Unlikely, but not impossible.
Cincinnati offense vs Temple defense
QB Hayden Moore has a LASER ROCKET ARM but is also inconsistent. He has only completed 56% of his passes at less than 6 yards per attempt with a 13-7 TD to INT ratio. The WR group is not especially scary and the Owls will just have to eliminate the big plays and let the pass rush go to work. Temple is #2 in the AAC in sacks per game and TFL per game. The good news for the Bearcats is the emergence of RB Gerrid Doaks who has 500 yards rushing this season and he ripped off over 100 vs Tulane a week ago including one big run. Temple did an excellent job holding down the Navy rushing attack, and while it will be different facing a NON-option team for the first time since October 14, it seems to us that the Owls will be able to make more stops than the Bearcats. Cincinnati will need to establish the run and do a good job on first and second down. If they get behind the chains we foresee negative plays and INTs.
MEGA-MAZING MINUTIA
The two teams have combined to beat one FBS team with a winning record (Temple beat Navy last week).
Summary
Temple is moving in the right direction and have a spark with new starting QB. The defense will make more plays as the WR group should EAT. It may not be enough (anything can happen, yo) but it feels like the Owls will find a way to win and cover this game.
Conclusion
Temple -2.5 -106 (sent out 11:40 am EST Nov 9) (play up to -3 -120)