by Chuck Sommers
Saturday, Nov 13, 2021
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA
Where to watch: ESPN+
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: USC -7
BetMGM: USC -6.5
Caesars: USC -6.5
Season record
USC: 1-0
Temple: 1-0
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USC - Temple preview and analysis
Recent form
USC: won 89-49 vs. Cal State Northridge on Tuesday
Temple: won 72-49 vs. Maryland Eastern Shore on Wednesday
The USC Trojans are keeping the good times going after last season’s run to the Elite Eight.
They might still have as deep of a team as one could ask for.
The Trojans will look to move to 2-0 as they begin a two-game road trip against the Temple Owls in Philadelphia on Saturday.
USC, which lost to Gonzaga in the Elite Eight last season, opened the new season with a 40-point victory against Cal State Northridge on Tuesday. Boogie Ellis, a Memphis transfer, scored a game-high 20 points on 9 of 11 shooting along with two rebounds and two assists.
Isaiah Mobley, the brother of Evan who just went No. 3 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Draft this summer, had 15 points to go with nine rebounds, while Drew Peterson added 14 points on 7 of 10 shooting.
One thing you can count on the Mobley brothers is they know how to play defense. That’s what built USC to the NCAAs last season, along with dominant play at the interior.
Despite losing Mobley to the NBA and Tahj Eaddy due to graduation, the Trojans return 11 players and just added Ellis, the AAC Co-Sixth Man of the Year. With Andy Enfield in his ninth season at USC, it shows he knows how to put a group together.
But the Trojans have a tough road trip to begin the season, starting with what could be a trap game against a Temple team that is hoping to rebound after going 5-11 in its shortened campaign.
The Owls are coming off a 72-49 victory against the Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks. Last year’s leading scorer, Khalif Battle, had 22 points on 9 of 14 shooting to pace the offensive explosion from Temple. Damian Dunn also chipped in with 18 points on 6 of 13 shooting, as Temple shot 49.1 percent from the floor in the contest.
This is the first time since November 2019 that Temple and USC have met and only the third time since 1994. Temple won 70-61 at USC and has won the past two meetings in the series.
Prediction
It’s the ultimate battle between the talented big men of USC and the guards of Temple. There’s a massive size advantage for the Trojans and this could be a game where Mobley gets a lot of touches down low. Battle and Dunn will need to be at their best if they want to get this upset win, but I think USC ultimately pulls away and gets the win. USC by 12
Betting trends
USC is 40-6 straight-up as a favorite over the past three seasons.
USC is 11-7 ATS in its last 18 following a double-digit victory.
Temple is 9-15 ATS at home over the past three seasons.
Temple is 1-5 ATS in its last six following a double-digit victory.
Projected starting lineup
USC:
PG: Ethan Anderson
SG: Boogie Ellis
SF: Drew Peterson
PF: Chevez Goodwin
C: Isaiah Mobley
SF: Drew Peterson
PF: Chevez Goodwin
C: Isaiah Mobley
Temple:
PG: Jeremiah Williams
SG: Khalif Battle
SF: Damian Dunn
PF: Sage Tolbert III
C: Jake Forrester
SF: Damian Dunn
PF: Sage Tolbert III
C: Jake Forrester
Statistical leaders
USC:
Points: Boogie Ellis -- 20.0
Rebounds: Isaiah Mobley -- 9.0
Assists: Isaiah Mobley -- 3.0
Temple:
Points: Khalif Battle -- 22.0
Rebounds: Nick Jourdain -- 9.0
Assists: Jeremiah Williams -- 4.0
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
