Akron Zips vs Temple Owls Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 09/02/2023

Game Time: 2:00 pm ET, Saturday, September 2, 2023

Venue:  Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA

Where to Watch:  ESPN+

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Akron +10.5, Temple -10.5; Over/Under:  55 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Akron +10.5, Temple -10.5; Over/Under:  54.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Akron +10.5, Temple -10.5; Over/Under:  54.5 points

Akron Zips:  0-0 (MAC East)

Temple Owls:  0-0 (AAC)

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Akron Zips:  N/A

Temple Owls:  N/A

Akron finished last season with a 2-10 record overall and they had a 1-7 record in their conference games too.  They were 1-4 in their home games, 1-6 in their road games, and they were also 0-0 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be on the road for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 21.8 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 33.5 points per game. Their offense also averaged 372.7 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 406.2 yards per game. Demarcus Irons Jr. led the team in passing yards with 2606, Cam Wiley led the team in rushing yards with 486, and Shocky Jacques-Louis led the team in receiving yards with 931.

 

 

 

Temple finished last season with a 3-9 record overall and they had a 1-7 record in their conference games too.  They were 3-4 in their home games, 0-5 in their road games, and they were also 0-0 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be at home for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 21.9 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 29.2 points per game. Their offense also averaged 350.5 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 391.2 yards per game. E.J. Warner led the team in passing yards with 3028, Edward Saydee led the team in rushing yards with 639, and Jose Barbon led the team in receiving yards with 918.

The current betting odds have Temple listed as a 10.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Temple had a terrible season last year as they finished with a 3-9 record overall and were only 1-7 in their conference games, making them one of the worst teams in the AAC last season. Akron wasn't any better though as they finished last season 2-10 with a 1-7 record in their conference games too, making them one of the worst teams in the entire MAC which is a weaker conference than the AAC. Now Akron is going on the road for this 1st game of the season and they have made some improvements in the transfer portal but not many as they are still going to be a really bad team this season and they will have a tough time going into this Philadelphia environment and trying to win against a better team from a better conference. Temple has also made some improvements in the transfer portal so they will be looking to have a much better season with a lot of the tougher teams leaving the AAC now, and they also have EJ Warner as their QB who is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. The Temple offense will be a lot better this season and they will be looking to take a big step from last season, especially in this 1st game against one of the worst teams in the country over the last few years. The best way to place a bet here is on Temple to cover the spread in this game.

Akron Temple Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, September 2, 2023 (2:00 pm ET start time) is Temple 27 Akron 10.

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Akron Zips: 10-3 ATS as a road underdog of 7.5 to 10 points. 4-2 ATS in a road game where the total is between 49.5 and 56. 15-10 UNDER in a road game where the total is between 52.5 and 56. 24-17 UNDER in games played on a grass field.

Temple Owls: 4-11 ATS when the total is between 49.5 and 56. 7-17 ATS against MAC opponents. 15-6 UNDER in a home game where the total is between 52.5 and 56. 35-23 UNDER in the first month of the season. 

Akron Zips:  None.

Temple Owls:  None.

“I think it all starts with establishing your culture and making sure the kids understand the tenets or pillars of success—discipline, accountability, work ethic, attention to detail, selflessness—you need to get all those things established before you talk about any X or any O." - Joe Moorhead on changing the culture of the program coming into this new college football season.

“I’m expecting, hopefully this week, to see a little bit more consistency come out of those younger guys, but we need them to bring a skill set that’s going to help us not only at receiver, but they’re going to help us on special teams as well.” - Stan Drayton on his team’s younger WR’s coming into this season.

WR George, Daniel 

WR Gathings, Jasaiah 

WR Adams, Alex 

TE Banks, TJ 

QB Irons, DJ 

RB Lingard, Lorenzo 

WR Mathis, D'Wan 

WR Baines, Zae 

WR Anderson Jr., Amad 

TE Martin-Robinson, David 

QB Warner, E.J. 

RB Saydee, Edward 

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Coaches:

Akron Zips: Joe Moorhead (2nd season)

Temple Owls: Stan Drayton (2nd season)