Army Black Knights (3-0) vs. Temple Owls (1-3)
The Army Black Knights, undefeated at 3-0, will take on the struggling Temple Owls with a record of 1-3 in an intriguing NCAAF Week 5 showdown. It is set for Thursday at Lincoln Financial Field and will be broadcast on ESPN. As the season heats up, this matchup presents a critical juncture for both teams, especially in the context of NCAAF betting picks. The Black Knights aim to maintain their perfect record, while the Owls look to salvage their season after a rocky start.
The Army Black Knights seemed formidable on the ground as offensive running back Noah Short led the rushing game this season. Short, who has made a remarkable contribution with 266 yards rushing on just 20 carries and scored once, has recorded an average of 13.3 yards on every rush attempt. Such explosiveness will be needed to break down the Temple defense. In addition, wide receiver Casey Reynolds has also been a key participant in the passing game, as he has registered 4 receptions for 97 yards and 2 touchdowns. His capacity to make openly the offensively constraining unit has formed part of the Army’s playbook strategy.
On the other hand, the Temple Owls have had their positives; among them is their ability to move the ball through the air, quarterbacked by Evan Simon. Simon has gone 34 for 52 for 456 yards as a passer with a rating of 179.6 with seven touchdowns and one interception. Yet another important player for the Owls remains Dante Wright, a wide receiver who is all-in-all, with 26 catches averaging 352 yards in receptions. His dynamic play may have answered Temple’s sporadic fireworks, which will be vital in dismantling the Army’s defensive game.
Army Black Knights vs. Temple Owls Game Info
When: | Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 7:30 PM ET |
Where: | Lincoln Financial Field |
TV: | ESPN |
Stream: | Sofascore |
Bryson Daily QB vs. Evan Simon QB
Army quarterback Bryson Daily has been reasonably practical this season, although relatively less explosive than earlier. With 186 passing yards and three touchdown throws with no picks, one understands why his efficiency rating, which was a conservative 52.6%, is fairly accurate due to the steady control employed in conserving the balls. It will be critical to the Army’s offensive strategy against Temple to avoid turning the ball over but make those important plays that Bryson Daily has made.
On the other hand, Evan Simon of Temple has treatable digits of 456 yards and 7 touchdowns. Combined with a high completion accuracy of 65.4% and a long pass of 91 yards viewed in isolation, his ability to perform deep passes demonstrates game impact potential changing moments within seconds. Simon’s prone to attacking the defending hoop with his passes may test the Army’s secondary, and indeed, the time he spends moving in and out of ball possession may as well determine how the game will end.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Army Black Knights -599, Total Odds: 45.5
The betting odds heavily favor the Army Black Knights, reflecting their strong start to the season and consistent performance. The point spread of -11 for Army indicates expectations of a decisive victory, which aligns with their recent form. However, the game’s total set at 45.5 points suggests anticipation of a moderately high-scoring affair, possibly driven by Temple’s potent passing game.
Army Black Knights Betting Trends
Army’s betting trends are positive, as they are 5-0 against the spread (ATS) in their last 5 games and 7-0 straight up (SU) in their last 7 games. However, their historical performance against Temple is less favorable, with a 1-7 ATS record in their last 8 meetings. These statistics suggest that while Army is generally a strong bet, their matchups with Temple have been closer contests.
Temple Owls Betting Trends
Temple’s recent form has been less impressive, with a 4-9 ATS record in their last 13 games and a 1-6 SU record in their last 7 games. Moreover, they have struggled significantly within their conference, holding a 2-18 SU record in their last 20 games against American Athletic Conference opponents. Despite these struggles, Temple has consistently hit the over in recent matchups against Army, with the total going over in 7 of their last 9 encounters.
Army Black Knights vs. Temple Owls 9/26/24 Betting Picks
Looking over the circulating information and the observations, I would end my recommendations in favor of the Army Black Knights spread. Their stout Defense, as well as efficient offense, mostly the running offense should be too much for Temple’s mediocrity. However, the high over/under line in their previous results suggests an over total in points scored will present a worthwhile betting opportunity.
As for individual performance bets, it would be wise to place some prop bets on Noah Short for rushing yards and Evan Simon for passing touchdowns when pitching these players for performance betting. The optimal approach to the best online betting may be to add these bets to an Army victory while simultaneously selling the anticipated nature of events.