Memphis vs. Temple Odds
| Memphis Odds | -10 (-115) |
| Temple Odds | +10 (-105) |
| Moneyline | -450 / +340 |
| Over/Under | 60 |
| Time | 12 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPNU |
| Odds via DraftKings. Get up-to-the-minute college football odds here. | |
The Temple Owls look to carry momentum into American Athletic Conference play as they welcome in the Memphis Tigers.
Temple is currently 2-2 on the season and the program is happy to see former four-star recruit D’Wan Mathis return last week after an injury in the opener had him sidelined for two weeks.
The Owls have been surprisingly strong on the defensive side of the ball. That improvement will be tested against a Memphis offense that averages over 38 points per game.
Memphis started out undefeated through the first three weeks — including a victory over an SEC opponent in Mississippi State — before falling to UTSA last week 31-18.
It was a bit of a letdown game for the Tigers, as they ended their 17-game win streak at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. They held a 21-point lead early in the game but were outscored, 17-0, in the fourth quarter.
They’ve been riding the hot hand of freshman quarterback Seth Henigan, who replaced Grant Gunnell after he was ruled out for the season.
Whether Temple’s improved defense will be able to slow down the high-powered Memphis offense will be crucial in this matchup.
Memphis vs. Temple Betting Preview
Memphis Tigers
Memphis Offense
All signs point to the offense falling into the same stereotype of recent years: they can score a lot of points in a flash.
The Tigers are averaging 38 points and contributing over 440 yards of offense per contest. They rank 10th in the nation, averaging 7.2 yards per play and are among the top in the country in Explosive Plays.
Henigan is coming off his first loss as a collegiate quarterback and entering his first conference game on the road. He’s been terrific up to this point, averaging 9.9 yards per pass attempt while tossing nine touchdowns to just one interception.
His main target has been Calvin Austin III, who's one of the top playmakers in the country. Austin III has accounted for seven of Henigan’s touchdown passes and is averaging nearly 20 yards per reception with over 130 receiving yards per game.
Memphis Defense
It looks like another year of Memphis' defense also living up to its reputation from the past: allowing a lot of points in a flash.
Through four games, the defense ranks 109th, allowing 37 points and 515 yards per game.
Just like years past, they’ve been solid against the run, only allowing 3.2 yards per carry and are 66th in Rushing Success. But they sit at 105th in Defensive Passing Success, where they’ve allowed 7.3 yards per attempt.
They’ve shown the ability to limit big plays, but haven’t been able to take the ball away, as they've forced just three turnovers on the season.
Temple Owls
Temple Offense
There's reason to be optimistic about the Temple offense improving this season, as they welcome back Mathis, the Georgia transfer.
The redshirt freshman was injured in Week 1 against Rutgers but returned last week against Wagner to throw for nearly 300 yards and two touchdowns on 32 pass attempts.
The Owls run the ball on 57% of their plays but average only 3.5 yards per carry.
They’ve proven to be a bit more efficient through the air (averaging 7.6 yards per pass attempt), but they throw only 25 passes a game.
They’ve been horrid on third downs, converting just 14-of-50 attempts, good for a conversion rate of 28%.
Temple Defense
This unit is allowing 38 points per game, yet only allowing 315 yards per game.
That discrepancy was shown in Temple's Week 1 matchup vs. Rutgers, where it was defeated 61-14, yet was only outgained by 100 yards of offense. The Owls turned the ball over five times in that matchup, but have since cleaned that up and won the turnover battle 4-1 since.
Temple has allowed only 95 passing yards over the last two weeks. That wasn’t because the Owls' defensive backs are elite, but rather they faced teams that emphasize the rushing attack in Boston College and Wagner
67% of the plays that Temple has seen on defense have been rushing plays.
That statistic is sure to change when they face a pass-heavy offense in Memphis, which will play at one of the quickest tempos in college football.
Memphis vs. Temple Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Memphis and Temple match up statistically:
Memphis Offense vs. Temple Defense
Temple Offense vs. Memphis Defense
Pace of Play / Other
Data via College Football Data, FootballOutsiders, SP+, PFF and SportSource Analytics.
Memphis vs. Temple Betting Pick
The Owls didn’t allow fans in 2020, and in 2021, they’re searching for fans who are still supportive of this program.
Memphis on the other hand has hopes to be a contender in the conference. The dynamic duo of Henigan and Austin III is in for a big day against a defense that hasn’t seen an aerial attack of this caliber.
Mathis has been inconsistent and has yet to prove he can put together scoring drives against FBS defenses. He was 8-for-24 passing with an interception against Rutgers before leaving with an injury.
The Tigers' offense should have no issue putting up touchdowns in this game and Temple will struggle to keep up with their inability to move the sticks.
