Army vs. Temple: Betting Preview and Prediction
Both Army and Temple favor a run-heavy, clock-controlling offense, leading to predictions of a lower-scoring game.
The Army Black Knights will visit the Temple Owls for a college football game on Friday afternoon. Army, with a 1-1 record, enters the matchup as a 3.5-point favorite against Temple, which stands at 1-2. The over/under for the game is set at 48.5 points.
Army's offensive strategy remains consistent, prioritizing a run-heavy, triple-option attack. The Black Knights have run the ball on 81% of their plays this season, the highest rate in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), and operate at the second-slowest offensive pace in the country.
Temple's approach this season shows a notable shift towards a ground game. The Owls currently rank 117th in seconds per play, averaging 29.8 seconds, and are 16th in rush rate at 63.1%. This contrasts with their 2025 season, which featured a nearly even split between runs and passes. This change in offensive identity may be partly due to personnel adjustments, with Ajani Sheppard taking over at quarterback after Jaxon Smolik's injury. In their recent game against Toledo, a 49-48 overtime loss, the Owls rushed for 261 yards, with three different players carrying the ball at least 15 times.
Given both teams' tendencies to control the clock with their ground games, analysts predict a slower pace of play. The expectation is that the clock will continue to move, potentially limiting scoring opportunities. Based on these factors, the prediction favors the game going under the 48.5-point total.
