Army Black Knights vs. Temple Owls – As we head into Week 5 of the NCAAF season, the undefeated Army Black Knights (3-0) face off against the struggling Temple Owls (1-3) in a Thursday night showdown. Set at the Lincoln Financial Field and airing on ESPN at 7:30 PM ET, this game is poised to be a decisive clash that could either maintain Army’s perfect start or give Temple a much-needed boost. Fans and bettors alike are turning to NCAAF expert free picks to gauge where the smart money should lie in this match-up.
Army Black Knights vs. Temple Owls
Date & Time: Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field
TV: ESPN
Army Black Knights vs. Temple Owls Betting Odds
Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
Army | -599 | -11 (-110) | 45.5 over (-110) |
Temple | +425 | +11 (-110) | 45.5 under (-110) |
Army Black Knights Analysis
In this football season, the Army Black Knights have stood out offensively, aggressively penetrating the other team’s territory and scoring. Quarterback Bryson Daily has to be mentioned. He works 52.6% of the passes, 186 yards 3TD, and does not have even a single Interception. This efficiency is complemented by his high passer rating of 187. This has seen Noah Short, the running back more like an explosion, achieve 266 yards over 20 carries. This means he will be ripped through Temple’s defenses when he carries an average of 13.3 yards. Casey Reynolds a wide receiver, increases the visibility of this aerial threat, catching four of them for 97 yards and two scores.
They have been a little shy, especially in their away matches, where they have somehow lacked stability in defense. But their defensive line has been strong in the current campaign, which has seen then register many games without a defeat. Sometimes, it has to keep its discipline and rely on the previous performances in preventing Temple, who has a skillful but inconsistent offense line.
Temple Owls Analysis
Regarding offense, the Temple Owls have been quite good on the ground and have displayed bursts of brilliance, mainly due to their quarterback Evan Simon, who has thrown 456 yards, seven touchdowns, and only one interception in four games. His primary subject, Dante Wright, has gained 352 yards while catching the ball 26 times and is considered one of Temple’s primary players. However, the running game has been sub par, with Antwain Littleton averaging 3.7 yards per carry. What this could do in a way is to somehow deny them of exploiting the defensive frailties that the Army has.
Temple has been a colossal failure on the defense end, as evidenced by their 1-6 SU record in their last 7 games and the increasingly worrisome stat where the total has gone OVER in 7 of the team’s last 9 games against Army. This trend suggests that they have spectacularly failed to handle fixtures with high-scoring potentialities-a scenario that may well recur against Army’s proficient offence formation.
Army Black Knights vs. Temple Owls Against the Spread
Army’s betting trends are impressive with a 5-0 ATS in their last five games and a 7-0 SU streak. However, they have historically underperformed against Temple, with a 1-7 ATS record in their last 8 encounters. This statistic could give Temple backers some hope, considering Army’s general struggle in games against Temple, especially at away venues where Army holds a 6-13 SU record.
Temple, despite their poor overall season performance, have been the kryptonite for Army in recent meetings, which adds a layer of intrigue to the betting landscape. They have a 4-9 ATS record in their last 13 games, and a dismal 2-18 SU in their last 20 games against conference opponents, highlighting their struggles and sporadic capability to surprise.
Army Black Knights vs. Temple Owls Free Pick
Based on odds, trends, team stats, and key players, here are the picks:
Moneyline: Army Black Knights (-599). The stronger overall performance and key player statistics give Army the edge, despite the historical head-to-head challenges.
Spread: Temple Owls (+11 -110). Considering the historical ATS trends between these two, Temple might cover the spread in a high-scoring affair.
Total: Over 45.5 (-110). Both teams have tendencies to be involved in high-scoring games, particularly in matchups against each other.
Predicted Score: Army Black Knights 31, Temple Owls 21
Final thoughts: For bettors looking for reliability and strong returns on their wagers, focusing on the over on total points seems like a sound strategy. This game has all the makings of a higher-scoring event, aligning well with past encounters. For the best value bets, top betting sites in Canada offer a range of options that cater to these insights.