Temple Football Preview: Non-Conference Concludes With Mirror Image UConn

Temple Football will try to get back to .500 when they host the UConn Huskies at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Both teams have shown flashes of strong potential through five weeks, but haven’t been able to put it all together: UConn (2-3) has lost two games in a row, including a 42-41 overtime heartbreaker against Syracuse last week. Temple suffered a three game losing streak with last-minute losses to Toledo and Army before breaking through against then-undefeated South Florida on the road last week.

DraftKings has the Owls as solid home favorites, listing them at -180 on the money line with a point spread of -3.5. The over/under sits at 54.5 in a matchup between two teams capable of breaking loose huge plays.

ESPNU holds the broadcasting rights for the Owls’ non-conference finale. Here’s what to expect as Temple hosts the Huskies.

Scouting UConn

Quarterback Kalieb Osborne captains the Huskies’ dangerous passing game and has completed 81 of 140 attempts this season, picking up 1,162 yards and 10 touchdowns to just two interceptions. He’s also capable on the ground, gaining 333 rushing yards and adding five touchdowns. Temple head coach K.C. Keeler praised Osborne for his ability to keep his eyes downfield, preferring to air the ball out rather than use his legs.

Temple’s pass rush has just four sacks through five games this season, so their ability to hem Osborne in could prove pivotal. The Huskies spread the ball around well, with a quartet of receivers enjoying similar levels of production. 6-foot-4 Javon Brown (14 catches for 202 yards and two touchdowns) leads the way; 6-foot-3 Shamar Porter (nine catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns with a long gain of 53 yards) is another potential problem for the Owls’ secondary.

Despite their dangerous passing attack, Temple’s offense runs a majority of plays on the ground. Osborne’s legs are part of the reason why, but West Virginia transfer Cyncir Bowers (47 carries for 349 yards and five touchdowns) is another game-breaking playmaker for the Huskies. Kenji Christian (37 carries for 153 yards and a score) also gets a solid share of the snaps.

UConn’s opponents are averaging more than 400 yards per game: with seven sacks and four interceptions through five games, they haven’t had a ton of splash plays… but with 26 tackles for loss, they know how to limit opposing running backs.

Scouting Temple

Given their strong ground game and defensive ups and downs, Keeler described UConn as similar to the Owls in his weekly press conference. Temple’s starting quarterback should be Ajani Sheppard (40-of-72 for 631 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions; 47 carries for 234 yards and three touchdowns), but expect some snaps for Jaxon Smolik if he’s cleared to return to game action after missing three weeks to injury.

Colin Chase (nine catches for 201 yards and two touchdowns) is the Owls’ leading receiver, but Jayce Freeman, JoJo Bermudez and 6-foot-6 tight end Peter Clarke are also dangerous out in space… even if Temple’s air attack hasn’t gelled yet.

Running backs Sam Brown V (25 carries for 205 yards and two touchdowns; four catches for 105 yards and two scores), Keveun Mason (68 carries for 361 yards and two touchdowns) and Hunter Smith (20 carries for 82 yards) have all performed admirably in the face of injury. Brown is the lead back and is expected to return after missing last week, but Temple’s running game continues to chug along regardless of who’s getting the football or who’s blocking for them.