The No. 20 Cincinnati Bearcats (+4) are heading east to battle their conference rival Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field. This key daytime game will start at 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch it live by tuning in to ESPNU.
Betting Preview: Cincinnati Bearcats vs. Temple Owls
In this Saturday American Athletic Conference game, Temple is projected as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 4 points. The Bearcats are also receiving +165 moneyline odds while the Owls are -185. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 47.5 points, and if one side can find paydirt in the early stages, it’ll likely create a nice in-game betting opportunity.
With the game’s over/under initially set at 48.5, the under is receiving most of the early sharp action.
The profitable Bearcats have gained 9.0 units this season and are 5-1 against the spread (ATS). The team has posted an O/U record of 2-3.
The Owls have lost 1.1 units for moneyline bettors so far. They’re 5-2 ATS and own an even O/U record of 3-3.
The Bearcats are 6-0 straight up (SU), including 2-0 SU against AAC opponents. The Owls are 4-3 SU overall and are also 3-0 SU in conference play.
The Bearcats are looking to remain undefeated after a 37-21 victory over Tulane on October 6Their defense allowed the Green Wave to rush for 134 yards on 38 attempts, along with one rushing TD. Darius Bradwell had a good day for the Green Wave in that one with 88 rushing yards and a score on 16 attempts. On the offensive side, Desmond Ridder completed 15 passes for just 174 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Michael Warren II (123 rushing yards on 18 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Ridder (65 yards on 16 carries, one TD) led the ground attack in the win. Kahlil Lewis (three receptions, 40 yards, two TDs) and Warren II (three catches, 34 yards) shared the receiving duties.
Temple just earned a 24-17 win over Navy. The defense allowed the Midshipmen to rush for 270 yards on 53 attempts, including two rush TDs. Garret Lewis had a productive outing in the loss for Navy, posting 56 rushing yards and a score on 12 attempts. For Temple, Anthony Russo completed 23-of-31 passes for 300 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jager Gardner (52 rushing yards on 11 attempts) handled the ground attack in the win while Ventell Bryant (eight receptions, 147 yards, one TD) and Randle Jones (three catches, 28 yards) led the pass-catching corps.
Cincinnati has run the ball on 66.4 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Temple has a rush percentage of 52.7 percent. The Bearcats have run for 255.5 yards/game (including 296.0 per game versus American Athletic Conference opponents) and have 22 touchdowns via handoffs this year. The Owls are totaling 141.4 rushing yards per game (157.7 in conference) and have 12 total rush TDs.
The Bearcats offense has logged 212.3 yards/contest through the air overall (256.5 per game versus conference opposition) and has 10 passing scores so far. The Owls have produced 239.4 pass yards per outing (235 against AAC foes) and have 11 total pass TDs.
Cincinnati has let opponents rush for an average of 120.0 yards and pass for 154.3 yards per game. The Temple defense has allowed 152.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 180.6 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Bearcats have given up an ANY/A of 3.60 to opposing QBs, while the Owls are allowing an ANY/A of 3.32.
Passing-wise, Ridder has put up 792 yards this season, and has completed 63 percent of his 99 attempts with eight passing scores and only two interceptions. Ridder has a sparkling 7.97 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.27 over the last two games.
For the home team, Anthony Russo has completed 67-of-125 passes for 919 yards, two TDs and six INTs. Russo’s ANY/A stands at 5.23 for the year and 9.47 over his past two games.
These two teams faced off last year with the final outcome being a 35-24 victory for Temple.
Cincinnati Bearcats at Temple Owls NCAA Prediction
SU Winner: Cincinnati, ATS Winner: Cincinnati, O/U: Under
Team Betting Trends
- The Temple defensive unit has sacked opposing quarterbacks 20 times this season. Cincinnati has produced just 13 sacks.
- Temple has lost three fumbles this season while the Cincinnati offense has let four get away.
- The Bearcats offense has tallied three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Owls have put up seven such plays.
- The Cincinnati defense has allowed two pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Temple has given up zero such plays.
- The Cincinnati offense has created 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Temple has created eight such runs.
- The Bearcats defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Owls have given up 10 such runs.
- The O/U for Temple’s last outing was set at 49. The under cashed in the team’s 24-17 triumph over Navy.
- Over its last three games, Temple is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three matches, Cincinnati is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Temple has won five of its last six games SU, with a -10-point loss to Boston College on September 29th representing its one defeat over that stretch.
- The Over/Under for Cincinnati’s previous game was set at 48. The over cashed in the team’s 37-21 victory over Tulane.
- Cincinnati has produced 5.5 yards per carry across its last three outings and 5.9 over its last two.
- Temple has averaged 4.1 yards per carry over its last three contests and 3.4 over its last two.
