Free NCAAF Pick: Nittany Lions vs. Owls Odds
Looking for Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls Free NCAA picks & NCAA odds? NCAAF betting sees the Nittany Lions taking on the Owls on 9/12 at Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia, PA. This free NCAA football pick is based on matchup analysis and documented handicapping data tracked by CappersPicks since 2004, with a focus on identifying the strongest betting angle for this Nittany Lions Owls matchup.
2026 NCAAF Handicapping – Penn State Nittany Lions vs Temple Owls
(1-0) Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls (1-0)
Date: Sep 12, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA
NCAAF Moneyline Odds: Nittany Lions -3750 | Owls +1350 (Bet Now!)
Today’s NCAAF Spread Betting Odds: Nittany Lions -23.5 | Owls +23.5
NCAAF Football Gambling Total: O/U: 49.5
Here’s why I’m backing a Temple ATS bet below in my Nittany Lions Owls free pick & gambling prediction for this matchup.
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Nittany Lions vs. Owls Gameday
No. 16 Penn State heads to Philadelphia for its first road game of the season against Temple at Lincoln Financial Field. Both teams are 1-0 after comfortable opening victories. Kickoff is set for noon ET on ESPN2.
Penn State opened the Matt Campbell era with a 45-0 shutout of Marshall, finishing with 464 total yards while allowing only 153. Rocco Becht threw four touchdown passes as six different Nittany Lions reached the end zone.
Penn State has won 32 of 33 against Temple, but lost its last trip to Philadelphia.
Temple beat Rhode Island 38-14 behind a productive running game and a defense that scored twice. The Owls rushed for 227 yards and forced three turnovers, giving them a formula that could help shorten Saturday’s game against a deeper Penn State roster. Temple’s 27-10 victory at Lincoln Financial Field in 2015 remains its only win over the Nittany Lions since 1941.
Penn State leads the all-time series 40-4-1.
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It’s Week 2, Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls, hopefully we get a great matchup.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls Odds & Last 5
Penn State is a road favorite, with the market sitting around -24 and some books showing -23.5 or -24.5. Temple is getting more than three touchdowns at home, while the total is around 49 to 50 points.
The number reflects how dominant Penn State looked in its opener.
The Nittany Lions covered easily against Marshall after closing around -23.5. Temple also covered its opener, beating Rhode Island by 24 points after laying 14.5. Both teams enter Saturday 1-0 against the spread.
Owls Stats
Temple’s offense leaned heavily on the running game against Rhode Island. The Owls finished with 369 total yards, including 227 on the ground, while averaging 6.0 yards per play. They also went 4-for-4 in the red zone.
Keveun Mason carried the offense.
Mason rushed 20 times for a career-high 158 yards and two touchdowns, then added 34 receiving yards. His 192 all-purpose yards gave Temple a reliable way to control possession without asking its quarterbacks to carry the offense.
The passing game was split between two quarterbacks.
Ajani Sheppard completed 5 of 10 passes for 85 yards, while Jaxon Smolik went 4 of 6 for 57 yards and a touchdown. Temple threw only 16 passes overall, making the ground game the clear foundation of the offense.
The defense created the biggest swings. Jamarcus Pierre and Tyree Alualu each returned an interception for a touchdown, and Temple also recovered a fumble. Those takeaways helped turn a competitive first half into a comfortable win.
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Nittany Lions Stats
Penn State was efficient on both sides of the ball against Marshall. The Nittany Lions finished with 464 total yards and six offensive touchdowns while holding the Thundering Herd scoreless. Marshall managed only 153 total yards.
Rocco Becht was the biggest story in his Penn State debut.
Becht completed 13 of 18 passes for 271 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. He produced five completions of at least 20 yards and spread his touchdown passes among four different receivers.
Koby Howard supplied the biggest receiving day.
Howard finished with 161 yards and a touchdown, while Brett Eskildsen, Zay Robinson and Benjamin Brahmer also caught scoring passes. Carson Hansen led the ground game with 48 yards, with Quinton Martin Jr. and Cam Wallace each adding rushing touchdowns.
Penn State’s defense never let Marshall settle in. The Nittany Lions recorded two sacks, intercepted a pass and kept the Thundering Herd off the scoreboard in Campbell’s first game as head coach. It was Penn State’s first shutout in a head coach’s debut since 1915.
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Nittany Lions vs. Owls QB Matchup
Rocco Becht arrives in Philadelphia with a major experience advantage. The Iowa State transfer has made 40 career collegiate starts and owns more career wins than any other active FBS quarterback.
His Penn State debut couldn’t have gone much cleaner.
Becht needed only 18 attempts to produce 271 yards and four touchdowns, consistently hitting receivers downfield without turning the football over. Saturday provides his first road test in a Penn State uniform.
Temple’s quarterback situation is less settled.
Ajani Sheppard started the opener, but Jaxon Smolik also played meaningful snaps and threw Temple’s only touchdown pass. The Owls leaned heavily on Mason and the running game, keeping either quarterback from having to throw often.
That approach makes sense again against Penn State. Temple doesn’t need huge passing numbers if it can stay on schedule, protect the football and keep Becht on the sideline for stretches. The Owls’ quarterback room simply has to avoid giving Penn State short fields.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls bottom line: Penn State brings the stronger roster and more proven quarterback, while Temple’s rushing attack and turnover-producing defense give the Owls a path to compete at home.
Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls Football Betting Trends
- Penn State has a strong record as a favorite, going 27-3 straight up in their last 30 games.
- The Nittany Lions are 25-5 straight up after a win in their last 30 games.
- Penn State is 20-4 straight up in games with totals of 50 or more in their last 24 games.
- Also, the Owls are 7-1 on the over/under after a win in their last 8 games.
- Temple is 5-1 on the over/under in games with totals of 50 or more in their last 6 games.
- Additionally, the Owls have a 9-4 record against the spread in their last 13 home games.
Nittany Lions Owls Free Pick: Temple +24
Here is my Nittany Lions Owls free pick: I’m taking Temple +24 on Saturday. Penn State is better, but this is a lot of points to lay on the road against an Owls team that can shorten the game.
Keveun Mason ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns against Rhode Island. If the Owls keep that ground game moving, they can limit possessions and make Penn State work to create separation.
That matters with this number sitting at four touchdowns.
Temple’s best chance is to keep possessions down and make Penn State earn every scoring drive.
Penn State looked excellent in its opener, but Marshall offered almost no resistance. Rocco Becht threw four touchdown passes, yet Temple’s defense also created three takeaways and scored twice in Week 1.
Temple doesn’t need to threaten an upset for this bet to cash.
The Owls can stay within range by avoiding the early avalanche. Penn State’s talent edge is obvious, but I’m not eager to lay 24 away from home in its first road test. Temple also gets this game in Philadelphia, where it beat Penn State the last time the Nittany Lions visited in 2015.
A couple of Temple scoring drives and one turnover can keep this inside the number. I’ll take the points with Temple +24.
Today’s NCAAF Free Pick
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NCAAF Betting Tweet Of The Day
Get ready to get rockin’ outside the Linc‼️
Lot K is sold out 👀#TempleTUFF pic.twitter.com/O77NBQ9oM4
— Temple Football (@Temple_FB) September 9, 2026
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