PREMIUM
Rogers' Friday Night FIGHT
(NCAAF) USF vs. Temple,
Point Spread: -6.50 | -114.00 USF (Away)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: -6.50 | -114.00 USF (Away)
Result: Loss
The set-up: Willie Taggert took over at USF in 2013, inheriting a team coming off a 3-9 season. The Bulls went just 2-10 in his first season and barely improved in 2014, going 4-8. However, the Bulls won their final four regular season games (averaged 51.0 PPG in their final three), to get a bowl invite at 8-4. Yes, USF lost to Western Ky 45-35 in the Boca Raton Bowl but with seven starters returning on both side of the ball, USF fans looked forward to the 2016 season. Those high expectations have been well-grounded, as USF has opened 6-1 and leads the AAC East at 3-0. Temple got great news after its 2015 season, when its highly sought after head coach, Matt Ruhle, deiced to stay in Philadelphia, after leading Temple to an appearance in last year's AAC title game and a bowl appearance. Temple lost both of those final two games but the team's 10-4 season marked just the second time in school history a Temple team had reached the 10-win mark (the Owls were 10-2 in 1979). Temple comes into this game 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the AAC East, so a win here is a must if the Owls have any hope of getting back to the AAC's championship game
USF: Junior QB Quinton Flowers has thrown for 1,535 yards (13 TDs / 5 INTs) plus leads the team in rushing with 655 yards (7.0 YPC), while scoring seven TDs. This explosive offense is scoring 44.1 PPG (8th) on 506.4 YPG (15th), which includes a running game which averages 269.1 YPG (8th) on YPC. RB Marlon Mack (592 yards on 7.0 YPC with 9 TDs), is a nice complement to Flowers' dual skills. The USF defense allows 25.9 PPG (59th) on 436.1 YPG (62nd).
Temple: The Owls' senior QB Phillip Walker has completed just 56.2 percent on the year but he was 4-of-4 on Temple's game-winning drive last Saturday, as the Owls eked out a much-needed 26-25 victory at UCF. Walker owns a 10-10 TD-to-INT ratio but while Temple doesn't run it as well as USF, the RB duo of sophomore Ryquell Armstead and senior Jahad Thomas has combined for 760 yards and 14 TDs. Temple's defense ranks second in the AAC in total defense, allowing 317.1 YPG (that ranks 16th, nationally). Temple allows 23.0 PPG, which ranks 38th, overall.
The pick: Temple didn't have just any "ordinary" comeback win last week at UCF, but rather the Owls battled back from an 18-point deficit to win on a last-second TD. "It showed the tremendous maturity of our kids," Owls coach Matt Rhule told reporters of his team, which has won three of its last four and can tie USF for first place in the AAC East. "They just kept playing, playing, playing. I'm proud of them." However, the Temple defense is up against an USF offense which has scored at least 35 points in each of its last 11 games! Temple fell 44-23 at USF last season, a game which started the Bulls' scoring streak of 35 or more. Holding this offense in check is not likely and note that aside from the 55-point debacle against Florida State in USF's only loss, the Bulls' defense has given up just 21.0 PPG. USF is an 8* play.
USF: Junior QB Quinton Flowers has thrown for 1,535 yards (13 TDs / 5 INTs) plus leads the team in rushing with 655 yards (7.0 YPC), while scoring seven TDs. This explosive offense is scoring 44.1 PPG (8th) on 506.4 YPG (15th), which includes a running game which averages 269.1 YPG (8th) on YPC. RB Marlon Mack (592 yards on 7.0 YPC with 9 TDs), is a nice complement to Flowers' dual skills. The USF defense allows 25.9 PPG (59th) on 436.1 YPG (62nd).
Temple: The Owls' senior QB Phillip Walker has completed just 56.2 percent on the year but he was 4-of-4 on Temple's game-winning drive last Saturday, as the Owls eked out a much-needed 26-25 victory at UCF. Walker owns a 10-10 TD-to-INT ratio but while Temple doesn't run it as well as USF, the RB duo of sophomore Ryquell Armstead and senior Jahad Thomas has combined for 760 yards and 14 TDs. Temple's defense ranks second in the AAC in total defense, allowing 317.1 YPG (that ranks 16th, nationally). Temple allows 23.0 PPG, which ranks 38th, overall.
The pick: Temple didn't have just any "ordinary" comeback win last week at UCF, but rather the Owls battled back from an 18-point deficit to win on a last-second TD. "It showed the tremendous maturity of our kids," Owls coach Matt Rhule told reporters of his team, which has won three of its last four and can tie USF for first place in the AAC East. "They just kept playing, playing, playing. I'm proud of them." However, the Temple defense is up against an USF offense which has scored at least 35 points in each of its last 11 games! Temple fell 44-23 at USF last season, a game which started the Bulls' scoring streak of 35 or more. Holding this offense in check is not likely and note that aside from the 55-point debacle against Florida State in USF's only loss, the Bulls' defense has given up just 21.0 PPG. USF is an 8* play.
