Temple Owls 2024 College Football Preview
Posted June 23, 2024
2023 Recap
Record – 3-9
ATS – 3-9
HOOT HOOT took flight early in the season with wins over a pair of TOMATO CANS (Akron, Norfolk St), and even after they were spanked by YOUR Miami Hurricanes (L 41-7), there was still reason to believe they could find some additional wins. Well, there was only one more victory to come (Navy), and the Owls finished the season at 3-9 for the second season in a row.
Will year three of the Stan Drayton era be any different?
Temple Owls 2024 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Owls did absolutely nothing on the ground LY (#123 rushing offense) and relied heavily on the arm of 3,000-yard QB EJ Warner. Temple was #24 in the nation in passing offense but just #106 (!) in passing efficiency thanks to a hideous team TD to INT ratio (23-16) and a paltry 6.5 YPA (#103). There’s a major rebuilding project to be undertaken as the Owls lose their starting QB, #1 RB, and top-two pass catchers. Rutgers transfer QB Evan Simon is the favorite to win the starting job but it’s not a done deal and we’ll have to see how the competition goes over the coming months. The RB unit looks sketchy but maybe Maryland transfer Antwain Littleton can provide a spark? The Owls didn’t do much to upgrade at WR thru the portal so it’ll be up to holdovers like Dante Wright and Zae Baines to step up their games. Temple returns just a pair of starters up front including RG WISDOM Quarshie so the pass protection might take a hit after allowing an impressive 17 sacks LY (#26). We’re not sure exactly what to expect from the offense but we suspect it won’t be “good”.
DEFENSE
After showing some promise in 2022 (29.3 PPG, #95) the Owls slid back into their disgusting ways in 2023 (35.7, #127). Only five starters return on this side of the football and they’ll be without their top-six (!) tacklers from LY’s stop unit including star LB Jordan Magee (#1 tackles, 14 TFL). The DL will be improved as it’s stocked with experienced upperclassmen but it would be great if they could get a legit pass rusher or two to emerge. Losing Jordan Magee to the NFL (REDSKINS REDSKINS REDSKINS) leaves a massive gap in the middle of the defense and he’ll be almost impossible to replace. The Owls were an ABOMINATION last season when it came to defending the pass and were dead last in the FBS in pass efficiency defense (27-3 TD to INT, 64%, 8.9 YPA). They’ve added over half a dozen transfers on the back end to remedy the situation and we’ll see how that goes.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The kicking game should be decent with the return of punter Dante Atton and the addition of Austin Peay’s solid PK Matthew Trujillo (13/15 FG LY). Also note that Sam Martin wasn’t bad on KRs LY (20.3, TD).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – There’s only one killer on the non-conference schedule (Oklahoma) and they’ve got a license to pull an upset in one of the other three games (Utah St, Coastal Carolina, at UConn). They miss Memphis in AAC play which is yuuuge but they have to visit Tulane and UTSA.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – at Oklahoma (Aug 31)
We’ve got no interest in playing the road dog in this one as there’s literally no limit ** to how many points the Sooners can score. Watch them get blown to bits in this one and then maybe pounce on some value the next week when they play Navy?
** Fact check: Ok, maybe the ceiling is around 135 points.
Season Win Total
Market consensus June 23
Over 2.5 -105
Under 2.5 -125
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean: Under
It takes a really open mind to find three wins on their schedule.
NOTE – “Lean” implies this is how we’d invest in this market if forced to make a choice. We’ll notify subscribers in our Season Win Total blog post of any season win totals that have made our investment card.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Temple is 6-8 SU (!) at home under HC Stay Drayton but 0-10 on the road, and 3-7 ATS as a road underdog.
The Owls have allowed 50+ points in each of their last two bowl games (2019 – UNC, 2018 – Duke).
It’s impossible not to like a mascot named HOOTER.
Philadelphia set a city record during the 2020 elections with 178% of eligible voters getting to the polls. That included 780 people that had been dead since the 1800s, a lobster, and a sack of potatoes **.
** Fact check: Almost certainly true.
MEGALOCKS Forecast:
This promises to be an agonizing season for the Owls as they try and find their way in a deep and talented AAC conference. We’re not sure what the plan is on offense but the defense will be a bit better this year. It’s hard to find wins on the schedule but we’re almost certain they’ll pull an upset at some point. Temple fans deserve better but we’ll call for one or two wins with hopefully better times to come in 2025!