@QuanNFL
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Rutgers -18 over Temple
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2:00 PM EST
Rotation #115
Betting Line Provider: BetOnline
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Temple, a once respectable AAC football program, has been a bottom feeder for going on two seasons now. They lost their last eight 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. They were utterly blown out in every other game.
The Owls finally got off the schneid and won their first game in a calendar year last week against the FCS Lafayette Leopards but even that game comes with an asterisk. Despite the win, and the fact that it was against a lowly Patriot League FCS opponent, it wasn’t easy. Temple committed three turnovers while forcing none and only won and covered thanks to three blocked punts which resulted in short fields. Similar to last season, this is the only win I anticipate them getting for the rest of the year and the remaining games will likely all be blowout losses.
Rutgers is no powerhouse in their own right, but the one thing they do 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 these two teams 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 against weaklings which is the exact dynamic we are getting in this game.
