Temple Owls vs. Memphis Tigers Prediction & Game Preview - 2/24/2022

Time: 7 p.m. ET

Venue: FedEx Forum, Memphis, TN

Where to watch: ESPN2

DraftKings: Memphis -11

BetMGM: Memphis -11.5

Caesars: Memphis -11.5

Temple: 15-9 (8-5 AAC)

Memphis: 15-9 (9-5 AAC)

Are the Temple Owls coming into their own at the right time? Quite possibly it’s happening because you can’t go from out of anywhere to defeating a top team like SMU in recent days. And to then follow that with a win over the Cincinnati Bearcats, man, what a time to be alive.

Such a run has put the Owls to now fourth in the AAC and there’s this growing belief from those within Philadelphia that the team will actually put some things together and put on a run. Okay, maybe not but at the very least it’s going to be a competitive four-team race for the AAC.

Zach Hicks had 16 points off the bench for Temple, and Damian Dunn also did some things and scored 15 points off the bench. You’re more than likely not going to win games like this when your leading scorers are off the pine. But hey, at this time of year, any time you can get some wins and actually do the thing is fair in my book.

That win over SMU definitely has me thinking in some realm of how we are going to view Temple going forward. It’s really been a wild race with only three teams at this point. Knocking off SMY has made this a four-team race and it is kind of funny. Then again, Temple may soon vbe out in a matter of days if they can’t get out of the first round, but I digress.

Also, shoutout to Temple. It’s just a fun program to talk about. Going to Temple while being at Temple to praise Jesus about Temple and what does going to Temple do for you?

Honest question: Is Penny Hardaway still yelling at people after losing? It’s been a while since that happened, but I can't help but think that is what it's going to be defining Memphis’ season because what else would it be?

The fact that I can’t get over that is crazy in of itself. But when you have a winning streak end with a 73-57 loss to the same SMU team that just lost to Temple not too long ago, you’re not going to be having a very fun time. 

When you have three players in the low teens and just shoot 40 percent from the floor on the road, things just aren’t meant to be a good time. Memphis played all of its players, including one lone guy named Jacobs for one minute because why not? The Tigers got 13 points from Lester Quinones on just 5 of 11 shooting, while Landers Nolley (best name on the block) had 12 points.

Remember when Emoni Bates was a thing? What in the world is going on with that kid? Between him being MIA and his dad saying things on his behalf (because that absolutely worked for LaVar Ball back in the day), I can’t help but think Memphis would be in a much better situation had things developed differently with Bates and he actually didn’t turn into a 5-star bust.

Of course, there’s still time, or the time is ticking before he goes to the NBA Draft and everything about this goes completely moot. I don’t know if we can ever be at the point to call Memphis a fun factory now that James Wiseman can’t play and Bates is sitting at home playing XBOX while collecting the scholarship money, but what else would you rather be doing as a college kid? You tell me.

Both teams have done well against the spread coming into this matchup. You look at Temple, for example, as the Owls have covered their last five against teams with a winning record, and are 4-0 against the spread against teams with a winning percentage of .600 or better. Memphis has also covered in five of its last six overall and the under has gone 4-0 following Memphis playing three straight road games. I can’t discount Memphis having that run they were on before losing to SMU, but Temple is just so good right now. I’ll take Memphis outright but Temple with the cover. Memphis by 7

Temple is 6-1 ATS as a road dog this season.

The under is 10-3 in Temple's conference games this season.

Memphis is 30-15 ATS following a conference game the past three seasons.

PG: Hydier Miller

SG: Quincy Ademokoya

SF: Jahlil White

PF: Nick Jourdain

C: Arashma Parks

PG: Alex Lomax

SG: Lester Quinones

SF: Landers Nolley II

PF: DeAndre Williams

C: Jalen Duren

Points: Damian Dunn -- 15.5

Rebounds: Jahlil White -- 5.6

Assists: Jeremiah Williams -- 4.4

Points: Jalen Duren -- 11.4

Rebounds: Jalen Duren -- 7.5

Assists: Alex Lomax -- 3.8