Temple Owls vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons Betting Preview
Where: Navy-Marine Corps Stadium — Annapolis, MD
When: Tuesday, December 27, 2016, 3:30 PM ET
Line: Temple Owls (-11.5) vs. Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+11.5); total: 40.5 – view all NCAA Football odds and lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
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Betting on the Temple Owls (-11.5)
No. 24 Temple brings in a seven-game winning streak (7-0 ATS) into this game; a fantastic run that was topped by the program’s first conference football title since 1967.
The Owls resoundingly trounced Navy in the American Athletic Conference championship game earlier this month, scoring in their first three possessions and allowing their defense to impose its will for what turned out to be a 34-10 victory. But with coach Matt Rhule taking over things at Baylor, they’re going to have to win this game under Ed Foley’s direction.
Expect him to continue leaning on the quarterback-running back tandem of Philip Walker and Jahad Thomas to lead a Temple offense that’s putting up 32.4 points and 426.3 total yards this season.
Walker’s passed for nearly 3,000 yards with 20 touchdowns and Thomas only needs 72 rushing yards more in this contest to clinch his second-consecutive 1,000-yard season.
On defense, look to defensive lineman Haason Reddick to hold the fort. He has 9.5 sacks and 21.5 TFLs on the season, and is one of the main reasons why the Owls’ defense (18.7 points allowed) ranks among the best in the nation today.
Betting on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons (+11.5)
Wake Forest should be motivated to win here. A victory would give them not just its first bowl victory since 2008, but also allow them to finish the season with a winning record at 7-6.
The Demon Deacons don’t have an offense to be proud about. Quarterback John Wolford has passed for just 1,591 yards and seven touchdowns along with nine interceptions on the season. However, he’s rumbled for 523 yards and six more scores, which makes him a pretty solid threat on the ground.
Defense is where Wake Forest wins football games. The team only allows 21.9 points on average this year, obviously among the lowest in the country. Thank linebacker Marquel Lee and safety Jessie Bates for this, as each have 90-plus tackles this year. The former also has 7.5 sacks and 19 TFLs under his belt.
Wake Forest is 4-6 SU and 6-4 ATS in its last 10 games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
Temple (-11.5) drops the hammer on Wake Forest, 42-19.
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