– Last Updated on August 28, 2019 7:18 am
2019 Football Preview – AAC Conference – Owls
Looking for 2019 Temple Owls predictions? Temple football is no joke, even if it felt that way when they lost coach Manny Diaz to Miami after about a week. His replacement is Rod Carey and there is enough for the Owls to continue to be a winning program in the AAC. They have a good schedule for some immediate success in year one.
NCAA Football Gambling Lines
2019-20 College Football Preview – Temple Owls
Head Coach: Rod Carey
2018 Record: 8-5
Temple Owls Odds to win the 2019 FBS Championship: 10000/1
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
***More 2019 NCAA Football Team Season Previews***
More than half of the starters are returning on both sides of the ball. The cupboard is far from bare. Geoff Collins set up the program for future success just like when Carey took over the reins at Northern Illinois.
2019 Temple Owls Predictions: Team Strengths
The Offense: This is pretty generic strength but there is a lot to work with on offense.
It starts up front where four starters return on the offensive line. That should help them improve on 10th in the AAC in rushing this season.
That should also make it easier for junior quarterback Anthony Russo. He was just OK but with a little more time and experience he can be a lot better.
[dfads params=’groups=220&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
Russo has returning starters at receiver in Brandon Mack and Isaiah Wright. Neither are elite but there should be continuity across the offense this season.
The Defense: Similar to the offense the defense should be in good shape with 6 starters returning.
They should be especially strong up the middle with all three starting linebackers returning led by leading tackler Shaun Bradley. All three of those guys are seniors too so they have seen a thing or two.
Safety Benny Walls had three interceptions last season and plays center field for the Owls. He is another senior that will make sure this group leads.
2019 Temple Owls Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Too Much Transition?: Luckily for Temple it did not take too long to get someone to take the role and keep it this offseason.
They did not lose too much time but it is hard to know what the effect was in terms of recruiting, transfers and scheme implementation.
It is an easy out but no program want to go through that. Rod Carey won 12 games his first season but never approached that level after his second year guiding NIU. He has also never won a bowl game.
Check out the free College football picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
Russo threw 14 interceptions last season and has to improve his ball security.
He is a pocket guy while Carey has tended to have more mobile signal callers at NIU, guys who were just as good rushing as passing and could make the right calls.
It will be interesting to see how much of that kind of system is put in place this season. It might not be a fit for the personnel.
Temple Owls Prediction: 8-4
The key for the Owls is maximizing a soft early schedule. They have a FCS laup against Bucknell and then Maryland, at Buffalo and home to Georgia Tech (and their old coach). They can win all of those games and will probably be favoured in all of them. A 4-0 start would be awesome.
In the AAC they have a tough schedule with games against UCF and Memphis at home. The venue helps but those teams are better. Road trip to South Florida and Cincinnati look like losses too. That covers the next third of their schedule (though those games are not back to back).
If they can east up all the minnows on their schedule than that is how they get that 8-4 record this season and back to a bowl game. The floor looks like 6-6.
[dfads params=’groups=219&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
The success of this year might be determined by how much Rod Carey is willing to leave well enough alone. He did at NIU but he was promoted from the staff. If he resist temptation here another 8 wins looks good.
2019 Temple Owls Football Schedule
Date Time vs
- 8/31/19 3:00 PM ET BUCK
- 9/14/19 12:00 PM ET MD
- 9/21/19 TBD @BUFF
- 9/28/19 TBD GT
- 10/3/19 8:00 PM ET @ECU
- 10/12/19 TBD MEM
- 10/19/19 TBD @SMU
- 10/26/19 TBD UCF
- 11/7/19 8:00 PM ET @USF
- 11/16/19 TBD TULN
- 11/23/19 TBD @CIN
- 11/30/19 TBD CONN
What do you think about our 2019 Temple Owls predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2019!
The 2020 College futures betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on NCAA football, you are in the best possible place for online betting. CappersPicks.com has NCAAF odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find College football lines up for early games as well.
Check out our Updated College Football Betting Odds.