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December 9, 2023
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NFL
2:00 PM EST
Rotation #115
Betting Line Provider: BetOnline
Rutgers -18 over Temple (2u)
Temple, a once respectable AAC football program, is now a college football bottom feeder. They have lost eight straight games against FBS foes by an average of 35 points per game including a 30-0 shutout loss against Duke in the season opener. Last year they finished the season 1-7 with their only win coming against an FCS opponent in Week 2. Every other game? Non-competitive blowout loses.
The Owls finally got off the schneid last week and won their first game in a calendar year against the lowly FCS Lafayette Leopards — congrats to them I guess. Despite playing against a Patriot League foe, Temple committed three turnovers while forcing none and only won and only won the game thanks to three blocked punts which resulted in short fields. Similar to last season, this early season FCS victory is the only win I anticipate them getting and look for the remainder of their games to be blowout losses.
Rutgers is no powerhouse by any means, but the one thing they do very well is demolish the inferior teams they play. Greg Schiano is a complete bully and has zero hesitation running up the score when his team steps down in class — especially when he is facing an opponent who competes with him in recruiting like Temple does. Last week Rutgers obliterated Wagner 66-7, covering the massive -48.5 point spread in the process. Despite being up 38-7 at half, they continued to pour it on in the second half, outscoring a totally outmatched Wagner team 28-0 in the second frame.
When Rutgers and Temple played last year, it was more of the same. Rutgers was up 26-7 at half and Schiano continued to run it up, outscoring Temple 35-7 in the second half in a game that was already a blowout at halftime. Rutgers finished 5-8 last year but they won three games by 30 points — a team who excels in the bully role blowing out weaklings which is the exact dynamic we are getting in this game.
I fully expect this spread to be covered at halftime and it is not in Schiano’s nature to call off the dogs in the second half. This game is being played at Lincoln Financial Field but there will be little precious home field advantage for the Owls. Schinao challenged the Rutgers fan base to “paint the stands in scarlet” and there will be 20 buses full of students making the short trek from New Brunswick, New Jersey to Philadelphia. Look for Rutgers’ defense to stifle the Owls and for the Scarlet Knights to put up a big number on the scoreboard and not let up. Blowout alert! Take Rutgers.