Notre Dame @ Temple NCAA Football Spread Analysis

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have the bigger name and higher national ranking, but they’re going to have their hands full in trying to beat a blossoming Temple Owls team that is in the national Top 20 for the first time in nearly four decades believe it or not College Football odds fans. Now, let’s find out if the Irish can cover the spread against the surprising Owls.

How To Bet the Fighting Irish @ Owls NCAA Football Odds, TV & Game Info

When: Saturday, October 31, 8:00 PM ET Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania TV Broadcast: ABC NCAAF Odds: Notre Dame -10 Over/Under: 49.5

SCARY GOOD! Notre Dame is a perfect 15-0 all-time when playing on Halloween day. #AccomplishTheMission pic.twitter.com/NKZYDq3pFz

— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) October 28, 2015

Why Bet on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (6-1 SU, 6-1 ATS)

The Fighting Irish blew an 14-point first half lead against USC two weeks ago, but managed to hold on and record a 41-31 win over the Trojans as a 6-point home favorite. Quarterback DeShone Kizer tossed a go-ahead TD pass with just over nine minutes remaining in regulation and Justin Yoon put the game away with a 32-yard field goal with just over five minutes left to play. Kizer passed for 227 yards and two touchdowns in the win while running back C.J. Prosise rushed for 143 yards and two scores on 19 carries. Wide receiver Will Fuller added three catches for 131 yards and one touchdown that came on a 75-yard strike in the first quarter. Kizer completed passes to six different receivers in the win as online betting fans can recall. “[The Owls] just have a really solid football team,” Irish head coach Brian Kelly said. “Again, one deserving of where they are, a Top 25 football team. It will be a great challenge for our football team, going on the road, and one that we’ll have to play very well.”

Why Bet on the Temple Owls (7-0 SU, 5-2 ATS)

The Owls moved to 7-0 by shutting down East Carolina in its 24-14 Week 8 win as a 3-point road dog as quarterback P.J. Walker completed 19 of 35 passes for 250 yards and one touchdown while running back Jahad Thomas rushed for 66 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries. “Obviously we’re excited about this week, as I know everybody is,” Owls head coach Matt Rhule said. “A tremendous opportunity to play a great team in Notre Dame, a team we had a chance to play two years ago. They’re probably still a national title contender even though they lost one game by a point or two points. They’re loaded, they’re absolutely fantastic.” The gifted, but little known Thomas has rushed for 822 yards and 12 touchdowns while adding another 204 yards in receptions and one score on 18 receptions. Thomas has two 190-yard rushing games this season. More importantly, the Owls have an elite defense that ranks sixth against the run and eighth in points allowed (14.6 ppg). “They have a really good offensive line, really solid up front, they have a really strong tailback and our defense is going to match up well against them,” Temple defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis said. “We’re excited to play.”

My Expert Game Analysis, Prediction & Pick:

I’m going to get right to the point by saying that I like the Temple Owls to not only cover the spread against the Fighting Irish, but to do so by recording the outright home win. I love Temple’s defense and I expect the versatile Thomas to open a lot of eyes by using his outstanding elusiveness to gash the Irish run defense. The Owls have recorded 12 interceptions this season to rank fifth in the nation. Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer has thrown an interception in four of his last five games and I expect the Owls to force him into at least one costly turnover in this contest. The Fighting Irish are 4-0 ATS in their last four games following an S.U. win and 5-0 ATS in their last fie games overall, but the Owls have been covering the spread consistently as well. The Owls are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games against Independent teams and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games overall. Temple is also 8-3 ATS in their L/11 games against a team with a winning record and 5-2 ATS in their L/7 home games versus a team with a winning road record. The betting public is split right down the middle on this Week 9 affair, but I’m going with the big upset for the unheralded Temple Owls. My Pick: Temple 28 Notre Dame 27