College Football Predictions – Temple Owls 2020 College Football Preview
August 23, 2020
2019 Recap
Record – 8-5
ATS – 8-5
The Owls were right in the thick of things after a 5-1 start that included a win over the JUGGERNAUT Memphis Tigers, eventual champs of the AAC. They got rocked in back-to-back contests vs SMU and UCF and allowed 108 (!) total points in those beatdowns. That was all she wrote. To be fair, you can’t sneeze at another eight-win season, and note that Temple hasn’t had a losing record since 2013. Hoot, hoot.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
American Athletic Conference – #8
<Note. No divisions this year. One 11-team conference.>
Temple Owls 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Owls were a major disappointment on offense last year and took a NOSE DIVE in terms of scoring output (26.3 PPG, #10 AAC; 34.9 in 2019). They couldn’t get the rushing attack going (#11 AAC, 137 YPG) and the THROW GAME was inconsistent. QB Anthony Russo improved his TD to INT ratio to 21-12 (14-14 in 2019) but still made too many mistakes. It’s possible that he improves in his senior campaign but it just might be that “he is what he is” at this point. Russo will be pleased to know that his ace WR tandem of Jadan Blue (95, 1,067) and Branden Mack (59, 904) are back to terrorize AAC defenses and recall that #1 RB Re’Mahn Davis tallied 15 receptions LY (12.1) in addition to his 936 rushing yards and 8 TDs on the ground. Temple’s top-two RBs averaged just 4.8 and 41 YPC LY and that generally won’t cut it. The offensive line returns three starters but loses their excellent center Matt Hennessy who was one of the best at his position in the country.
There are too many weapons on hand to think they will struggle again this year. We’ll call for a slight improvement in production but it’s up to the offensive line to provide a solid foundation.
DEFENSE
The Owls put together a nice stretch from 2014-2016 in which they allowed just 18.4, 20.1, and 17.5 PPG, but they have slipped in recent seasons. They were pretty much average across the board LY (#6 AAC rush defense, #6 pass defense, #5 total defense) and move forward with just four returning starters and the loss of several key pieces. DE Quincy Roche was a BEAST last season (13 sacks) but he’s taken his talent to YOUR Miami Hurricanes. They’ll also be without their top-two tacklers (Shaun Bradley, Chapelle Russell) and that leaves a big hole at linebacker. DT Ifeanyi Maijeh is a nice piece to build around (52 tackles, 6.5 sacks LY) and CB Christian Braswell and safety Amir Tyler backstop what should be a decent secondary.
Lack of star power and depth are both legitimate concerns. This looks like an average AAC stop unit on paper.
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK Will Mobley connected on 11/14 FG attempts LY but missed three XPs. Punter Adam Barry returns but Temple was #117 in the FBS in net punting in 2019. Temple will certainly miss Isaiah Wright who had a fine career as a return specialist.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – 8 games are set as we approach press time. Let’s wait and see how/if the schedule comes together. They draw all three BIG BOYS in AAC play (Memphis, UCF, Cincinnati). Their final two games are both at home.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at UCF (November 14th)
This will be their 3rd road game in four weeks and the Knights have been SPANKING the Owls pretty hard recently.
Season Win Total
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number. <awaiting final schedule>
MEGALOCKS says:
Waiting for Vegas/Offshore number.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
It’s not too long ago that the Owls were part of MACtion! They competed in the MAC from 2007-2011 and compiled a record of 35-27 in that KOOKY (yet incredibly entertaining) conference. Your pal Al Golden was the HC for four of those seasons and they were led by Steve Addazio in 2011.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Rod Carey enters his second year at the helm and faces a tough challenge dealing with the top teams in the LOADED AAC. It looks like they have enough firepower to compete in most games but our DEEP AAC INSIDERS are concerned about a defense that might struggle, particularly against the potent offenses on the schedule. We’ll call for a .500 mark or so in conference play and don’t think they have the MINERALS to get to the conference title game.
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WEBSITE
https://owlsports.com/sports/football
FORUM
https://247sports.com/college/temple/Board/Temple-Owls-Message-Board-104514/
http://temple.247sports.com/Board/Temple-Owls-Message-Board-Forum-59459
https://temple.forums.rivals.com/forums/temple-football.10/
NEWS
http://temple-news.com/category/sports/football/
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/temple/
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/218/temple-owls
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