Temple (2-1, 0-0) at South Florida (3-0, 0-0)
When: Friday, September 21st 2017
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Time: 7:30 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: South Florida -18/60.5
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The South Florida Bulls look for revenge against the team that gave them their last loss when they host the Temple Owls on Thursday night in the AAC opener for both schools. USF Quarterback Quinton Flowers accounted for 386 of the team’s 680 yards and five touchdowns in the 47-23 win over Illinois last week as he creeps up the Heisman odds board. The Owls knocked off USF 46-30 last October in Philadelphia and the Bulls have won eight in a row since to match a school record. The offense has produced at least 30 points in a national-best 20 consecutive games while averaging 40 in the first three of 2017. Temple’s defense has shown it can make plays with 14 sacks in the first three games – nine last week in a 29-21 win over Massachusetts. The Owls have won two in a row since getting pounded 49-16 by Notre Dame in their opener and have four receivers with at least eight catches and 100 yards thus far. The Owls have gone away from the run to produce 262.3 passing yards per game with no interceptions, but South Florida’s improving defense has picked off eight passes in the first three games.
Sophomore quarterback Logan Marchi has thrown for 767 yards in the first three games with five touchdown passes, but Temple needs to get the ground game going. Junior running back Ryquell Armstead tops the Owls with 177 yards rushing, but the team is averaging just 2.9 per carry while senior Keith Kirkwood (12 catches, 185 yards), sophomore Isaiah Wright (nine, 180) and senior Adonis Jennings (eight, 146) have all been factors through the air. Junior WR Ventell Bryant, needs four receptions and 48 yards receiving to move into the top 10 at the school in both categories. Freshman defensive end Quincy Roche, who was named co-AAC defensive player of the week Monday, has four sacks while junior defensive back Delvon Russell has 28 tackles for the 119th-ranked defense.
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The Bulls gave up a lot of points last year, but are starting to improve their turnover margin and have not allowed a point in the third quarter in the first three games. Junior defensive back Ronnie Hoggins and sophomore linebacker Nico Sawtelle lead a balanced unit with 18 tackles each while both own an interception for the Bulls, who are 14th in the nation in rushing defense (89.3 yards) after allowing just 67 last Friday against Illinois. On offense, USF’s leading rusher is senior Darius Tice with 256 yards, but QB Flowers is right behind him at 243. Flowers needs one rushing touchdown to pass Marlon Mack (32) for the school’s all-time record and is second alone in TD passes (54). RB D’Ernest Johnson has 64 career receptions, one behind Mack for second in school history among players at his position.
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Temple’s defense is a mess right now and the Bulls have a strong team all-around. I don’t expect the Owls to score many points while the Bulls could run up the score. Look for a blowout here as USF is playing well after struggling a bit in the first two weeks.
Pick: South Florida -19.5
TRENDS:
- Owls are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Thursday games.
- Owls are 6-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Owls are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win.
- Owls are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games on grass.
- Owls are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Owls are 25-8 ATS in their last 33 conference games.
- Owls are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 road games.
- Owls are 38-14-1 ATS in their last 53 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Owls are 20-8 ATS in their last 28 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Owls are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Owls are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
- Bulls are 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Bulls are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 conference games.
- Bulls are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 home games.
- Bulls are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games in September.
- Bulls are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
- Bulls are 13-5-1 ATS in their last 19 games on grass.
- Bulls are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Bulls are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Bulls are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bulls are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Bulls are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 Thursday games.
- Bulls are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
- Under is 5-0 in Owls last 5 games on grass.
- Under is 5-0 in Owls last 5 conference games.
- Under is 6-1 in Owls last 7 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 9-2 in Owls last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 13-3 in Owls last 16 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 7-2 in Owls last 9 games overall.
- Under is 7-2 in Owls last 9 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Under is 6-2 in Owls last 8 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Under is 17-8 in Owls last 25 games in September.
- Under is 37-18 in Owls last 55 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 4-0 in Bulls last 4 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 11-1 in Bulls last 12 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Under is 7-1 in Bulls last 8 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 10-2 in Bulls last 12 home games.
- Over is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 games on grass.
- Over is 5-1 in Bulls last 6 conference games.
- Over is 4-1 in Bulls last 5 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 7-2 in Bulls last 9 games after allowing more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Bulls last 8 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 12-5 in Bulls last 17 games overall.
