Temple vs UTSA Prediction, Odds & Pick (Friday, Nov, 22)

• UTSA (5-5) hosts Temple (3-7) Friday night with a shot at becoming bowl-eligible for the fifth straight year.
• The Roadrunners are over a two-touchdown favorite over a struggling Temple program.
• Read on for our full analysis of this AAC matchup, including where to find the best odds, and our prediction for the game.

UTSA (5-5, 4-6 ATS) rides its high-flying offense into Friday night when it hosts the struggling Temple Owls (3-7, 5-5 ATS) at the Alamodome for a 7 p.m. kickoff on ESPN2.

Temple fired coach Stan Drayton this week after his team’s overtime win over Florida Atlantic. Drayton had only nine wins in 2+ seasons with the Owls. Florida Atlantic fired coach Tom Herman after the loss. When’s the last time that happened where both coaches were fired after the same game?

Everett Withers, former head coach at James Madison and North Carolina, was named interim coach at Temple.

We’ve got your permanent prediction as we look at the best odds for Friday night’s game in Texas between the Roadrunners and Owls.

UTSA vs Temple odds

Odds as of November 21 at Caesars Sportsbook. Be sure to check out our top Caesars Sportsbook promos before making a bet on any Week 13 CFB matchup.

The Roadrunners are coming off a big win over rival North Texas, one we accurately predicted by the way. UTSA is really one of the best stories in college football. They’ve only been a FBS program since 2011.

With all of the turmoil at Temple, it’s no surprise UTSA is big favorites. They are 16.5-point favorites at most sportsbooks; BetRivers isn’t giving the half point. Three of the last four times Temple was the underdog, they did not cover.

The total is 55.5 at some books and 56 at others. UTSA is 7-3 over/under this season. Their last five games have all hit the over. In fact, their last three games have seen 91, 80 and 75 points scored. That’s a lot.

Not much value on moneyline bets here, but the best is Temple +550 at Caesars and UTSA -750 at BetMGM.

WALK OFF FIELD GOAL FOR MADDUX TRUJILLO 🦉#TempleTUFF pic.twitter.com/9ocBJOTn5K

— Temple Football (@Temple_FB) November 16, 2024

Just Owl-ful

It wasn’t that long ago that Temple had risen from the ashes to become a conference power, but Drayton never seemed like the right fit and the program has collapsed. Still, fire a coach after a win? Couldn’t they wait until after the season?

But the signs were all there. Temple lost to U.Conn by nine, lost to East Carolina by 22 and Tulane by 46. The program was non-competitive.

The Temple offense ranks 123rd in the nation, scoring just 19.1 points per game. Quarterback Evan Simon, a transfer from Rutgers (where he was not the starter), has started seven games.

The defense isn’t much better; they rank almost last in the nation against the run.

Want a bright spot? Owls kicker Maddux Trujillo is 13-18 this season, but he’s the only FBS kicker with four made kicks of 54 yards or more, including one from 60 and another from 64.

Turn and Burn

UTSA is that stereotypical Texas spread ’em and throw ’em team. QB Owen McCown threw for 379 yards in the win over North Texas and, in his last four games has thrown for 1,433 and 10 TDs.

He spreads it around. Three different receivers at UTSA have over 40 catches.

Defensively, UTSA isn’t great. They rank ninth in points allowed in the conference, and the last three games have been gashed for over 400 yards each time. Zah Frazier has four picks. Martavious French leads the team with 61 tackles, tying his number from last season.

ZAH FRAZIER 2ND INT OF THE NIGHT!!#AmericanWay x @UTSAFTBL pic.twitter.com/haUu7wRy2h

— The American (@American_Conf) November 16, 2024

Temple vs UTSA Prediction

• UTSA -16.5 at BetMGM
• Over 55.5 at BetMGM

We hate to pile on Temple here; this is like kicking a wounded dog, but let’s be real, they’re playing out the string. They had their emotional win over FAU, and then the administration fired their coach. How is any Owl going to play hard for Temple after that? This is one of the worst situations in the FBS.

UTSA has flaws, but at least they have an identity as a passing team with a proven quarterback. That’s more than enough to get them by the Owls, who probably just want to go back home and end the season. UTSA will score early and often.