SportsJaw
LeaderboardToday's GamesBest BetsConsensus PicksMake Picks
Login / Sign In
Today's GamesLatest PredictionsToday’s Best BetsConsensus 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
  • Consensus Picks
  • Team Predictions
  • Head-to-Head

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

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

NCAAF PicksSat 7:30 PM ET
Temple Owls logo
Temple
Owls
1-3
versus
South Florida Bulls logo
South Florida
Bulls
3-0
NCAAF · TEMPLE at USF

Your Picks on Temple vs South Florida

Picks close 15 minutes before game time (ET)
Spread
Moneyline
Total

Temple vs South Florida consensus picks

TEMPLE20%
80%USF

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls Predictions October 3, 2026

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

Venue: Raymond James Stadium — Tampa, FL

Article updated Sep 29, 12:47 AM EDT

By SportsJaw Editorial Team

South Florida will beat Temple, with a projected score of South Florida 26, Temple 20. The Bulls’ disruptive defense supplies the strongest matchup edge, while their offensive line problems make laying six points less appealing. Under 50.5 (-106) is the best available wager at the supplied price, although Temple’s explosive passing plays and USF’s recent turnovers make it a modest edge.

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls prediction and best bet

South Florida’s defense gives the Bulls the edge; Under 50.5 (-106) is the official wager. USF recorded 11 tackles for loss in each of its past two games and finished the Bowling Green win with six consecutive quarters without allowing a touchdown. That disruption could force Temple to work harder for its points despite the Owls’ consistent rushing production.

The favorite carries offensive concerns of its own. South Florida generated only 214 yards in its 14-6 victory on Sept. 26, with both touchdowns arriving in the fourth quarter. A home win looks more likely than a comfortable margin. The forecast is South Florida 26, Temple 20, with a Pass on the spread.

Odds, game time and how to watch

Game: Temple Owls at South Florida Bulls, 2026 college football season.

Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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

Records: Temple is 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the American after losing to Army. South Florida is 4-0 and 1-0 in conference play.

SportsJaw odds: Temple +195 moneyline and +6 (-110); South Florida -240 moneyline and -6 (-110). Total: Over 50.5 (-114), Under 50.5 (-106).

Temple Owls outlook

Temple’s rushing production gives the Owls a credible route to an upset. Through four games, they have gained 881 yards on the ground, averaging 220.3 per game. Their totals were 227 against Rhode Island, 176 against Penn State, 261 at Toledo and 217 against Army. That consistency is the strongest reason to expect Temple to remain competitive, even against a defense generating frequent losses behind the line.

The Sept. 25 Army game also showed the threat through the air. Ajani Sheppard completed 11 of 20 passes for a career-high 242 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, adding 48 rushing yards. Sam Brown ran 10 times for 96 yards and caught a 78-yard touchdown, finishing with 174 yards from scrimmage. Colin Chase added 92 scrimmage yards, including a 67-yard touchdown reception.

Yet Temple lost 21-17 despite gaining 459 yards and committing no turnover. Those totals make the offense dangerous without guaranteeing a strong scoring return. Sustaining drives through USF’s negative plays will matter as much as producing another long gain. Defensively, linebacker Curly Ordonez enters with 40 total tackles and 28 solo stops through four games.

South Florida Bulls outlook

South Florida’s unbeaten start includes a win that exposed considerable offensive strain. At Bowling Green on Sept. 26, Michael Van Buren completed seven of 11 passes for 52 yards, took six sacks and lost two fumbles. The Bulls remained scoreless through three quarters before scoring 14 fourth-quarter points. Repeating that slow start would leave Temple an opening.

USF used its fourth different starting offensive line in four games. Michael Wooten missed that game injured, Thomas Shrader shifted to right tackle, Ethan Green moved to left tackle and freshman Khalil Collins returned at center. Those were the Bowling Green arrangements; Wooten’s availability for Temple is unconfirmed. The Sept. 28 team report described injuries and reshuffling as an offensive-efficiency concern.

D.J. Crowther supplied the response, carrying 23 times for 143 yards and a touchdown, his second consecutive 100-yard performance. Meanwhile, the defense limited Bowling Green to 67 first-half yards and forced four first-half punts. Both field goals USF conceded followed turnover-created short fields. The Bulls are pursuing a 10th consecutive home victory, with an average winning margin of 33.9 points over the previous nine. That home record favors USF, though it cannot guarantee another wide margin.

Key matchup factors

The central contest is Temple’s rushing consistency against USF’s ability to push an offense backward. A tackle for loss can change which plays are practical on the next down, making the Bulls’ disruption especially relevant. Temple’s long touchdown receptions against Army offer a way around sustained drives, so the scoring threat extends beyond its rushing totals.

The combined consensus favors USF -6 (-110) at 80%, updated Sept. 29 at 04:43 UTC. Its 600 equivalent selections comprise 480 for USF and 120 for Temple, combining a modeled sportsbook sample with SportsJaw participation. Those figures are neither observed sportsbook ticket totals nor an 80% win probability. They describe support for the favorite, not the size of its advantage.

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls spread prediction

Spread recommendation: Pass on South Florida -6 (-110) and Temple +6 (-110). The projected six-point margin lands exactly on the supplied spread. USF’s defense and home winning streak favor the Bulls, but their recent protection problems leave too much uncertainty about separation.

Temple’s rushing production and two long touchdown passes against Army make the underdog competitive. Still, the Owls lost despite a productive, turnover-free offense that night. Neither side offers enough cushion at this number, and the consensus backing USF is not a reason by itself to back Temple.

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls total prediction

Total recommendation: Under 50.5 (-106), preferred to Over 50.5 (-114). The scoring case rests on USF’s recent defensive disruption and offensive protection problems. Temple’s rushing output alone says little about pace, but negative plays could interrupt scoring drives for both offenses.

The main risks are explosive touchdowns and short fields. Temple demonstrated the former against Army; USF’s turnovers created the latter at Bowling Green. The 46-point projection leaves room below 50.5, though that gap is only an estimate. Under is a modest wager supported by the matchup, not simply by the projected sum.

Temple Owls vs South Florida Bulls projected score

Game forecast: South Florida 26, Temple 20. USF’s recent defensive production and sustained home success provide the stronger winning case. Crowther’s consecutive 100-yard games offer a productive option while the passing offense works through its protection problems. Confidence in the winner is medium.

Temple’s explosive receptions are the strongest counterargument to the Under, while USF’s sacks and lost fumbles threaten the home win itself. The Owls have enough offensive production to make this competitive, but the Bulls get the narrow verdict. Both spreads remain a Pass. The single official SportsJaw wager is Under 50.5 (-106), with a smaller edge than the straight-up forecast.

SportsJawGame Predictions
Predicted score

TEMPLE20

USF26

Projected winner South Florida BullsConfidenceSlight Lean — Temple Owls
Pick on the Spread

Slight Lean — Temple Owls +6.5

Editorial pick at publication: Pass (article line changed)

Pick on the Total

Slight Lean — Under 49.5

Editorial pick at publication: Under 50.5 (-106)

Sources

  • Temple University AthleticsGame Guide: South Florida
  • Temple University AthleticsPrevious-game context: Football Drops First Conference Contest to Army
  • USF AthleticsPrevious-game context: South Florida Football Improves to 4-0 With Second Road Win of the Season

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.

Keep browsing

More NCAAF matchups

Compare predictions, consensus picks and recorded odds for other NCAAF games on this slate.

View all NCAAF games
NCAAFSat 7:00 PM
UTSA-11.5 (-110)
RICE+11.5 (-110)
O/U54.5
NCAAFSat 7:00 PM
GASOU-2.5 (-110)
CSTCAR+2.5 (-110)
O/U54
NCAAFSat 7:30 PM
MIA-16.5 (-112)
CLEM+16.5 (-105)
O/U48.5
NCAAFSat 7:30 PM
WASH+9.5 (-108)
USC-9.5 (-110)
O/U57.5
NCAAFSat 7:30 PM
TXTECH-13.5 (-110)
COLO+13.5 (-110)
O/U50.5
NCAAFSat 7:30 PM
UTST+20 (-110)
BOISE-20 (-110)
O/U51.5
NCAAFSat 7:30 PM
ARMY-2.5 (-103)
LATECH+2.5 (-107)
O/U46.5
NCAAFSat 8:00 PM
INDIAN-24 (-110)
RUTGER+24 (-110)
O/U56
NCAAFSat 8:00 PM
AKST+6.5 (-106)
ULL-6.5 (-110)
O/U47
NCAAFSat 9:30 PM
FRESNO+2.5 (-110)
WSHST-2.5 (-108)
O/U46.5