Temple vs. UConn Thread

Another week, another home game for the Temple Owls as they host UConn...Last week they toughed out a win against Central Michigan. If you remember I said I wasn't comfortable with the 7 and was hoping you'd tease it down to feel more comfortable. We definitely loved the under in the Chips game and that came thru with flying colors.

This is an interesting spread but I think the total may be a better play depending on what it is. I'll give my full writeup later on in the week but this is Temple's chance to send a message to the Big Least that they shouldnt take Nova and that they shouldnt have kicked us out.

Temple was in a let down situation against Central; They really wanted the Nova game the week befor and I think it took alot more out of them than expected.

They will be up for Uconn.

They already did that last week. 

I sided with UConn and here's why:

I can't believe my eyes passed this one up especially since it's the first game listed on the board for Saturday. After reading into stats and trends a bit in this game their looks to be a big advatage for the Huskies in this matchup. The Huskies are lead by senoir QB Zach Frazer who is off to an aceptable start as he threw for 205yards in that tough loss to Michigan and only threw for 104yards against Texas Southern but that was because the Huskies ran the ball down Southern's throat in a 62-3 rout of the non D-1 school. I think the tough loss and scrimage game against Southern set up the Huskies very nicely here to continue their success on the road as before the loss to Michigan the Huskies were 7-0ats on the road. The Huskies junior tailback  Jordan Todman who rushed for over 1100yards and 14TD's last season is off to a nice start carrying the ball 35 times for 256yards and 4TD's already (105 vs UM 151 vs TS). Temple first 2 games came againstvery weak teams IMO with wins over CMU (13-10), a team that lost their starting leader an QB in Dan Lefevour to the NFL and Villanova (31-24) a non D-1 school for football. Temple will rely heavily on sophmore tailback  Bernard Pierce who rushed for over 1300yards and 16TD's last season who is listed as questionable for this weeks game as of right now due to a hand injury. Temple has gone a different direction this year as instead of continuing with the success they had with last years starting QB Vaughn Charlton (switched to TE). Instead Temple turns to junior QB Stewart, Chester  who's career numbers before this year are 79 completions in 171 attempts (thats just 44%) 7td's 10int's. So when I look at this switch I think that it will seriously hurt Temple's chances to win games this season when facing a tougher opponent. I think the 2 slim victories over CMU & Villanova for Temple combined with Uconn's 30-10 loss to michigan have this spread way to low IMO as the score in the Michigan game does not reflect that the game was closer than the score seemed IMO. I love this spot for the Huskies and a senior led QB to keep their program running the strongest it has been in a 3 year span (24-14) since joining D-1 Football back in 2000-2001 season. Very large play on the Huskies early saturday...

Loving this play. Wish I would have seen it earlier as it looks to have opened at around 4 at the early books and is now up to 6.5 everywhere. I bought the hook GL...

Villanova is not a weak opponent at all and would beat Southern by 35+ points and hang within 2 tds of Michigan.  I think you are looking into stats and not real facts as UCONN still does not have a qb and Frazer is not good and off to an acceptable start passing for less than 50% against Michigan.  Both teams will rely on their run games and I believe Temple run d is better and they proved that last year holding down a Navy attack.  Temple returns 7 starters and has the tools to be a very good team this year.  And you talk down Stewart and up on Frazor but look at this year stats as Steward has passed at a 65 percent clip. 

Dont like Stewart.  Dont think he can throw on UCONN.  Fraser is much better.

THis might be a disgustingly ugly game where the 7 are good.  Bernard Peirce is a big if, since its a hand if he plays he should play well its not like he has a knee injury.

A loss here would derail Edsall and UConn.  This isnt a look ahead spot so I can take them confidently here laying 7 on the road.  I hope Peirce doesnt play.

This was against a DII team:

Team Stats

This was against a bad Central Mich team in rebuilding mode.  265 yards of total offense for the Owls.  No matter who you are playing against, that stinks.  Best play here may be the Under, can't see this total breaking 40 for these two teams.

Team Stats

Maybe 41, but not top 40...