College Football Predictions: Temple vs. Ohio Preview

Written by Jake Thompson
Wednesday, 02 November 2011 17:18

We’ll preview Wednesday’s college football game between Temple and Ohio with predictions on the score.

The Temple Owls (5-3) will be the road team for Wednesday’s 8:00 PM ET game against the Ohio Bobcats (5-3), but that hasn’t stopped the odds makers from installing them as the wagering favorites.  Temple is a 3.5-point favorite at Legends Sportsbook for this ESPN-televised game, and we hope that our preview and predictions will help everyone figure out what to expect tonight.

Ohio went on the road in last year’s clash and came out with a 31-23 victory despite being listed as 10-point underdogs.  The Bobcats won 35-17 at home in 2009, as well as 23-7 over Temple in 2007.  The Owls are 3-1 on the road this year, while Ohio is also 3-1 when playing at home in Peden Stadium in Athens.

The Bobcats have racked up wins against Akron, Kent State, Marshall, Gardner Webb, and New Mexico State this season, while suffering losses against Rutgers, Buffalo, and Ball State.  Quarterback Tyler Tettleton (1969 yards, 63.9%, 17 TD, 5 INT) leads a Bobcat offense that averages 31.9 points per game with a nice amount of balance.  The problem Ohio might run into is that Temple’s defense shuts down the run, and the Bobcats have been beat in the 2 games this year in which they were outgained on the ground.

Bet on tonight’s Temple vs. Ohio game at Legends Sportsbook and receive a 25% cash bonus on top of your first deposit simply for using our link to get started!

Temple’s offense runs for 252.1 yards per game, but their lack of a passing attack reduces the amount of points they are capable of putting on the scoreboard.  Ohio’s defense has been solid against the run and the pass this year, and Temple has also been beaten in the 2 games this season in which they were outrushed.  The Owls’ defense might also be a tick overrated after facing mostly below average offenses in 2011.

Although I’m a big fan of the Owls and what they do, I just don’t see any way for my predictions to be on anything other than Ohio winning outright.  The Bobcats are at home, have the better offense, and have handled Temple in recent years.  I’ll gladly go with the home underdog to pull the upset, and I expect Ohio’s ability to complement the rushing attack with a big passing game to be the difference.

Temple vs. Ohio Score Predictions:

Temple 23

Ohio 24