NCAA Football Betting – Western Michigan Broncos at Temple Owls
The Temple Owls (1-3 SU, 1-3 ATS), who have had some tough luck and some tough scheduling, will play host to the Western Michigan Broncos (3-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) in NCAA college football action that is set to kick off at 2 PM ET on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field (natural turf) in Philadelphia.
Saturday, September 27
BetUS NCAA Football Betting Odds: WESTERN MICHIGAN -4, Total 47.5
Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* WMU has won five of its last six games SU
* WMU is 1-3-1 ATS in its last five road games
* WMU has won four of its last six road games SU
* WMU has played seven of its last nine road games OVER the total
* TEM has covered five of its last six games
* TEM has lost four of its last five games SU
* TEM has played nine of its last 11 games UNDER the total
* TEM has covered four of its last five home games
* TEM has lost 13 of its last 17 home games SU
* TEM has played its last five home games UNDER the total
Temple returned almost all of its starters from last year and there was a lot of optimism in the City of Brotherly Love. Indeed, the season opener was profitable for them, as the Owls went to West Point and kicked Army around. Then Temple lost real heart-breakers on the final play of the game to both U-Conn and Buffalo. And last week against Penn State, they never got out of the starting gate, trailing 31-0 at the half and losing QB Adam DiMichele in the process. DiMichele, who suffered a shoulder injury that will keep him out of action for three to six weeks, had completed 60% of his passes, and was actually showing some improvement, so the Owls go back to the drawing board with Chester Stewart, who tossed three interceptions against the Nittany Lions. Stewart is the choice of coach Al Golden ahead of Vaughn Charlton, who has more experience. What also hurts about DiMichele’s injury is that he was the leading rusher for Temple, with 112 yards, and that gives you an idea of how good the rushing game is.
Western Michigan comes with a significant amount of firepower, and it starts with junior quarterback Tim Hiller, who has shown some dramatic improvement himself, more so than DiMichele did. Hiller, who completed 63 of his passes with 20 TD’s and 15 interceptions last year, and is currently ranked 11th nationally in passing efficiency, with a 71.6% completion rate, 14 TD passes and just two picks. Hiller has quite a bit at his disposal, with Jamarko Simmons, Branden Ledbetter and Schneider Julien all over 200 yards receiving, and Brandon West rambling for over 400 yards in the last three games.
Last season Western dominated things more than the 16-3 score indicated, holding Temple to just 146 total yards, and outgaining the Owls by 292 yards. Charlton, who was in place of DiMichele, who missed the last four games of 2007, completed just 6 of 25 passes. And Temple managed only 54 net rushing yards. The ground attack isn’t in much better shape, and this number is a bargain. Lay the points with Western Michigan, the four-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA college football betting odds.
