SportsJaw
LeaderboardToday's GamesBest BetsOdds ComparisonConsensus PicksMake Picks
Login / Sign In
Today's GamesLatest PredictionsToday’s Best BetsOdds ComparisonConsensus PicksTeam PredictionsHead-to-Head MatchupsSJ CoinsAbout SportsJawContact UsLogin / Sign In
HomeMatchupsMake PicksLeaders
SportsJaw

The social platform for sports bettors.

Explore SportsJaw

  • Today’s Picks
  • Predictions
  • Best Bets
  • Leaderboard
  • Make Picks
  • Odds Comparison
  • Consensus Picks
  • Team Predictions
  • Head-to-Head
  • Game Briefing

Picks by Sport

  • NFL Picks
  • NCAAF Picks
  • NBA Picks
  • NCAAB Picks
  • MLB Picks
  • NHL Picks

About SportsJaw

  • How It Works
  • SJ Coins
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact Us

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

© 2026 SportsJaw. For entertainment purposes only. SportsJaw does not accept or place wagers.

  1. Home
  2. NCAAF Picks
  3. Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls
Sat 7:30 PM ET
Temple Owls logo
Temple
Owls17
1-3
versus
South Florida Bulls logo
South Florida
Bulls13
3-0
Final
Team1234T
Temple Owls0100717
South Florida Bulls307313
NCAAF · Temple Owls at South Florida Bulls

Your Picks on Temple vs South Florida

Picks closed
Spread
Moneyline
Total

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls prediction: USF wins, Under 48.5 is best bet

Game time: October 3, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET

Venue: Raymond James Stadium — Tampa, FL

Article updated Oct 2, 1:43 AM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

South Florida will beat Temple 24-17, with a defense allowing 14.0 points per game providing the strongest matchup advantage. Temple's consistent rushing production should keep the Owls competitive, while the Bulls' offensive line disruptions temper expectations for a comfortable victory. Under 48.5 (-112) offers the best betting opportunity at the supplied price; the spread is a Pass.

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls prediction and best bet

South Florida's defense gives the Bulls the edge in this matchup. They enter unbeaten through four games and have gone six consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown. Temple brings a credible ground attack, but turning rushing yards into touchdowns against USF is the central challenge behind the South Florida 24-17 forecast.

The best bet is Under 48.5 (-112). The scoring case rests on the Bulls' defensive results and their own offensive difficulties, including just 214 total yards at Bowling Green. Temple's rushing consistency is a reason to respect the underdog, rather than assume a comfortable home win. South Florida can be the right winner without being an attractive favorite at -6.5 (-110).

Odds, game time and how to watch

Game: Temple at South Florida, 2026 college football season. Saturday, October 3, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida. Television: ESPNU.

Records: Temple Owls 1-3; South Florida Bulls 3-0.

SportsJaw odds: Temple Owls +5.5 (-110); South Florida Bulls -5.5 (-110). Moneyline: Temple Owls +180; South Florida Bulls -210. Total: Over 50.5 (-110); Under 50.5 (-110).

21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Picks are opinions, not guarantees. Past results do not predict future outcomes.

Temple Owls outlook

Temple's strongest argument is the consistency of its rushing production. The Owls gained 227 yards against Rhode Island, 176 against Penn State, 261 at Toledo and 217 against Army. That is at least 176 yards in every game, with a season average of 220.3. The production gives Temple a plausible way to compete without requiring an exceptional passing performance.

The results also show why that strength is insufficient by itself. Temple lost 49-48 in overtime at Toledo and 21-17 to Army. Those contrasting scores caution against assigning the Owls a predictable scoring environment simply because they run effectively. Their ground game has accompanied both a high-scoring loss and a much tighter defensive contest.

Linebacker Curly Ordonez leads Temple with 40 total tackles and 28 solo tackles through four games. His involvement makes him a relevant player against D.J. Crowther, although tackle volume alone is no guarantee of containing the USF runner. Temple's route to an upset is to pair its dependable rushing production with enough defensive stops to expose the Bulls' offensive limitations. The Owls have a credible route to a close game, but their record leaves little room for treating rushing yardage as a substitute for finishing possessions.

South Florida Bulls outlook

South Florida enters ranked No. 21 nationally in scoring defense at 14.0 points allowed per game and No. 55 in total defense at 322.3 yards allowed per game. The Bulls have surrendered six touchdowns through four games. Their scoring defense is the strongest reason to favor them, though the overall yardage ranking cautions against expecting Temple to move nowhere.

The September 26 victory at Bowling Green illustrated both sides of USF's profile. The Bulls trailed 6-0 at halftime before scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns to win 14-6. Both Bowling Green field goals followed turnovers that created short fields. USF kept the opponent out of the end zone despite those difficult situations.

Crowther supplied 143 rushing yards and a touchdown on 23 carries, his second consecutive 100-yard game. Michael Van Buren completed seven of 11 passes for 52 yards, and the offense finished with 214 total yards.

Protection and continuity remain concerns. USF used its fourth different starting offensive line in four games at Bowling Green, when regular starter Michael Wooten was out injured. That describes his status for that game, not a confirmed absence against Temple. The reshuffling and limited passing output make a defensive victory easier to envision than an offensive breakout.

Key matchup factors

The decisive question is whether Temple's rushing yards become touchdowns. USF's recent defensive results favor the Bulls on that question, while Crowther gives the home offense a productive option if the passing game remains limited. Neither team's rushing production, by itself, guarantees a slow pace.

As of October 2 at 05:30 UTC, the combined moneyline consensus favored USF at 82%, represented by 492 of 600 modeled equivalent selections. These are not observed sportsbook tickets or a win probability. USF's share rose two percentage points from October 1. The spread consensus was evenly divided at 50%, offering a useful contrast between support for a Bulls victory and support for a cover.

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls spread prediction

Spread recommendation: Pass on South Florida -6.5 (-110) and Temple +6.5 (-110). The projected seven-point margin barely clears the favorite's line, leaving little cushion for an offense that struggled to separate from Bowling Green.

USF's nine-game home winning streak strengthens the winner forecast. Those victories came by an average of 33.9 points, but that history is no promise of another large margin. Temple's consistent rushing output and the Bulls' offensive line changes make this spread a closer decision than the teams' records suggest. Neither side offers a convincing betting edge.

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls total prediction

Total recommendation: Under 48.5 (-112), rather than Over 48.5 (-108). The combination of USF's scoring defense and its recent offensive limitations supports a finish below this number. The 24-17 projection totals 41 points, although the projected score is only one expression of that matchup judgment.

Temple's 49-48 overtime loss at Toledo is meaningful counterevidence: its games can produce substantial scoring. Turnovers creating short fields are another risk. SportsJaw's community total leader is Under 48.5 (-112), but that preference is separate from the football case and carries no stated qualified-handicapper endorsement.

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls Projected Score & Betting Picks

Game forecast: South Florida 24, Temple 17. The Bulls should get enough from Crowther and their defense to win at home, with Temple's rushing consistency keeping the game competitive. This is a medium-confidence forecast, reflecting a supported but ordinary edge.

The strongest counterargument is that USF's offensive line disruptions and limited passing production could leave too much work for its defense. Temple also has demonstrated that productive rushing can accompany a high-scoring game. Those concerns keep the spread at Pass on both South Florida -6.5 (-110) and Temple +6.5 (-110). Under 48.5 (-112) remains the single official SportsJaw wager because the clearest matchup strengths favor defensive control over sustained scoring.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

Owls17

Bulls24

Projected winner South Florida BullsConfidencemedium
Pick on the Spread

Published pick: Pass (article line changed)

Pick on the Total

Published pick: Under 48.5 (-112)

Sources

  • Temple University AthleticsGame Guide: South Florida
  • USF AthleticsUSF Football Takes On Temple In Conference Home Opener
  • USF AthleticsSouth Florida Football Improves to 4-0 With Second Road Win of the Season
#TempleOwls#SouthFloridaBulls

Share this preview

Facebook X Reddit Email
SportsJaw logo
Written by

SportsJaw Editorial Team

SportsJaw's editorial organization researches matchup data, current odds, injuries and reporting, then validates each published preview against its listed sources and displayed markets.

About our editorial process

SportsJaw Owls vs Bulls game preview analysis and predictions incorporate current odds, injury reports, team statistics and market data. Information is updated regularly, but lines and player availability can change. Please confirm current information before wagering. View history of past Owls vs Bulls matchups or learn how our predictions work.

Current matchup data

Lines, trends and availability

Line movement since open

  • Moneyline · Temple Owls+195 → +180Moved
  • Moneyline · South Florida Bulls-240 → -210Moved
  • Spread · Temple Owls+6.5 (-110) → +5.5 (-110)Moved
  • Spread · South Florida Bulls-6.5 (-110) → -5.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Over53.5 (-110) → 50.5 (-110)Moved
  • Total · Under53.5 (-110) → 50.5 (-110)Moved

ATS and O/U trends

Temple Owls
1-3 matchup record · 5-4-1 ATS · 6-4-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file
South Florida Bulls
3-0 matchup record · 5-5-0 ATS · 4-6-0 O/U
Last 10 completed games on file

Injuries and availability

From the published research (2026-09-29T04:47:35.210Z). Availability may have changed; review the cited sources.

Protection and continuity remain concerns. USF used its fourth different starting offensive line in four games at Bowling Green, when regular starter Michael Wooten was out injured. That describes his status for that game, not a confirmed absence against Temple. The reshuffling and limited passing output make a defensive victory easier to envision than an offensive breakout.

Recent head-to-head

  • 2023-11-11Temple Owls 23 · South Florida Bulls 27
Final result

Matchup pick recap

Temple Owls defeated South Florida Bulls 17-13

Temple Owls defeated South Florida Bulls 17-13 on October 3, 2026, a 4-point decision in the series. Temple Owls' strongest period was the 2nd quarter, when it outscored its opponent 10-0. Against SportsJaw's recorded Temple Owls +5.5 (-110) spread, Temple Owls covered, while the 30 combined points finished under the recorded total of 50.5.

SportsJaw editorial picks

  • Projected winnerSouth Florida BullsLoss
  • SpreadPass on South Florida Bulls -6.5 (-110) and Temple Owls +6.5 (-110)Pass
  • TotalUnder 48.5 (-112)Win

Tipster picks

  • CodexTotal · Under 50.5 (-106)Win