On Friday, the Temple Owls will travel to Norman to take on the Oklahoma Sooners at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Oklahoma is an uber-talented team, and excitement levels are high for the Sooners' first season in the SEC — but is that where the betting value lies?
Let’s dive into my Oklahoma vs. Temple prediction and best bet.
Oklahoma vs. Temple Prediction
- Temple vs. Oklahoma Pick: Oklahoma-42
My Temple vs. Oklahoma best bet is the Sooners to cover the spread with the best line currently available at FanDuel, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Temple vs Oklahoma Odds
| Temple Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+43 -110 | 58 -108o / -112u | N/A |
| Oklahoma Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-43 -110 | 58 -108o / -112u | N/A |
Oklahoma vs. Temple Preview
Temple Owls Betting Preview: Bad Team Getting Worse?
The Temple Owls are expected to be one of the worst teams in FBS this season.
They ranked 129th nationally in SP+ last season and they rank 132nd in SP+'s 2024 preseason rankings.
In 2023, the Owls ranked 109th in Success Rate and 121st in Finishing Drives. In the offseason, they lost quarterback E.J. Warner, their top running back, two top receivers and three starting offensive linemen.
Forrest Brock, who attempted 15 passes with no touchdowns and one interception in 2023, is the new QB1 in Philadelphia.
The Owls were also a mess defensively in 2023, ranking 116th in Success Rate allowed and 131st in Finishing Drives allowed. They return five players from that unit but must replace nine of the top 10 tacklers.
That all spells trouble against a very talented Oklahoma squad.
Oklahoma Sooners Betting Preview: New Quarterback, New Conference, No Problem
Oklahoma will begin its first season in the SEC with a new quarterback. Sophomore Jackson Arnold will take over the offense, which is now led by new offensive coordinator Seth Littrell following Jeff Lebby's departure.
Arnold was a heralded recruit, and big things are expected of him in Norman. However, he's still inexperienced and will need support to grow into his new role.
Fortunately, the Sooners return seven offensive starters from last year's team, including their top rusher and five of their top six receivers.
The Sooners' offense ranked fifth nationally in PPA and seventh in Pass Success Rate last year. Arnold will have his work cut out to replicate that production, but many believe he can.
They also ranked 23rd in Rush Success Rate but only 96th in Rush Explosiveness, consistently missing that big play.
The Oklahoma defense has improved since Brent Venables took over as head coach. Last season, Oklahoma ranked 29th in Success Rate Allowed, including 33rd in Rush Success Rate Allowed and 27th in Pass Success Rate Allowed.
The Sooners also ranked in the top 25 nationally in PPA allowed against the run and the pass, as they generated a lot of Havoc and prevented their opposition from Finishing Drives.
With eight starters back on defense, I expect much of the same. The Sooners return nine of their top 10 tacklers from last year's solid unit, including first-team All-Big 12 linebacker Danny Stutsman — a potential All-American.
My Oklahoma vs. Temple Prediction
The spread is steep, but the Sooners are so much better than the Owls. Oklahoma brings too much continuity into its Week 1 matchup, and I expect the Sooners to start this season on a high note.
Temple was a bad team last season, and the Owls return almost no production for 2024. This may not be a negative in the long run, as there's a chance their new-look roster is better.
Still, I like fading teams without returning production early in the season as they take time to figure things out.
Since taking over in Norman, Venables is 4-1 ATS against Group of Five teams, including last season in Week 1, when the Sooners beat Arkansas State 73-0 as 37-point favorites.
I think that we could see a similar situation play out on Friday, with Oklahoma’s suffocating defense preventing Temple from ever having a chance.
Pick: Oklahoma -42 (Play to -44.5)
How to Watch Oklahoma vs. Temple Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Memorial Stadium, Norman, OK |
| Date: | Friday, Aug. 30 |
| Kickoff Time: | 7 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | ESPN |
