Temple vs UTSA Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Nov 22, 2024 4:10 AM ET

Stan Drayton just couldn’t get Temple going, and now he’s gone as the head coach with two games to go. Veteran Everett Withers is taking over for this and the season finale against North Texas, and he’s getting a team coming off a tough 18-15 win over Florida Atlantic.

It might not seem like much, but closing out 5-7 would be a big deal.

This hasn’t been the season UTSA wanted - even though it was supposed to be a rebuilding run - but things turned around with wins in three of the last four games and with stunners over Memphis and North Texas over the last two weeks.

A win here is almost a must to get bowl eligible, with a trip to Army next week to close.

Temple vs UTSA: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Friday, November 22, 2024
Game Time: 7:00
How To Watch: ESPN2
Venue: Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Teams: UTSA (5-5), Temple (3-7)
CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB
- Week 13 Schedule, Predictions

Why Temple Will Win

Temple picked an interesting time to pitch one of its best defensive games of the year.

The offense hasn’t been able to do much of anything on a regular basis, but the defense has had some terrific moments. It gave up 108 points over two games coming off a 20-10 win over Tulsa, and then it allowed just 317 yards of O to Florida Atlantic offense.

UTSA gets hit with more penalty yards than any team in America, the defense hasn’t been great, and …

Why UTSA Will Win

The UTSA offense should go crazy.

Temple’s offense is sputtering. It’s painfully inefficient, there aren’t enough great drives, and it’s a struggle to get to 20 points. The problem, though, is a run defense that, yes, has a few great performances here and there, but it’s running into a buzzsaw.

UTSA has gone off with almost 1,700 yards over the last three games and hitting 44 points in each of the three. No, the Roadrunner defense isn’t great, but everything is clicking on the other side, and the Owls won’t be able to keep up.

Temple vs UTSA: Who Will Win?

Temple will have a good first quarter, and then it’ll have to get the passing game going to have a shot. That won’t work.

UTSA won’t blow up quite as much as it did over the last few weeks, but it’ll get hot for a stretch and that will be it. Temple doesn’t have a turnover problem, but it’ll press, and it’ll struggle to keep things moving.