The AAC offers up what should be a close game for our viewing and betting pleasure when 2-2
Temple takes on 2- 2 Tulsa in Oklahoma Thursday night. The Golden Hurricane beat the Owls each of
the last two seasons and they’re favored by a field goal and a hook for this contest. Which way
are we going here with our free Temple/Tulsa pick?
NCAAF Betting Odds
This week’s college football betting market opened Tulsa as a
5.5-point favorite for Thursday night, with an over/under of right around 54.5. Early betting
action then dropped that spread two points to -3.5.
Temple Betting Preview
The Owls are 2-2 on the season after falling at home in the rain
to Miami last Saturday, 41-7. Temple, a 21-point home dog gave up the first 24 points of the game
and trailed 24-7 at the half. The Owls then came up empty in the second half, allowing the
Hurricanes to pull away. Temple got out-gained by Miami 543-279, and most of the Owls’ yardage
came in garbage time. The Owls opened this season with a 24-21 victory over Akron, but couldn’t
cover at -9.5. They then lost at Rutgers 36-7 and couldn’t cover at +7.5. Temple then beat
Norfolk State (FCS) 41-9. The Owls returned 16 starters this season from a team that played 3-9
last year. So, improvement is expected for their second season under Coach Drayton.
Tulsa Betting Preview
The Hurricane are also 2-2 on the season after winning at Northern
Illinois last Saturday, 22-14. Tulsa, playing as a four-point underdog, scored the first nine
points of the game and led 9-7 at the half. The Hurricane then fell behind to the Huskies 14-9
midway through the third quarter but scored the last 13 points of the game to steal the W. Tulsa
got out-gained by NIU 295-281 and turned the ball over three times. But it also ran the ball for
179 yards and forced three Huskies turnovers, clinching the game with an interception in the last
minute. The Hurricane opened this season with a 42-7 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (FCS), then
lost to Washington 43-10, then lost to Oklahoma 66-17. Tulsa only returned nine starters this
season, its first under Coach Wilson from a team that played 5-7 last year. So, the Hurricane are
a work in progress at the moment. On the injury front, Tulsa QB Braylon Braxton missed the last
three games and is listed as questionable for Thursday night. Back-up Cardell Williams is playing
some decent ball in his place, except for some interceptions.
Temple-Tulsa Recent History
The Hurricane beat the Owls each of the last two seasons by
scores of 44-10 and 27-16. Tulsa covered that meeting two seasons ago at -21, but Temple covered
last year at +14.
College Football Betting Trends
Tulsa is 4-10 ATS in its last 14 games as a home
favorite. Temple is 2-9 ATS its last 11 games as a road dog.
Totals Report
This season, the Unders are 2-1 in Temple’s games vs. FBS opponents . The
unders are 2-1 in Tulsa’s games vs. FBS foes.
