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The Temple Owls take on the USF Bulls in Tampa, FL. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
USF is favored by -6 points on the spread with a moneyline of -240. The total is set at 49.5 points.
Here’s my Temple vs. USF prediction and college football pick for Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Temple vs USF Prediction
- Temple vs. USF Pick: Temple +6.5 (Play to +6)
My USF vs. Temple best bet is on Temple to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page and download the Action Network app for more picks and analysis.
Temple vs USF Odds
| Temple Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+6 -110 | 49.5 -112o / -110u | +195 |
| USF Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-6 -110 | 49.5 -112o / -110u | -240 |
- Temple vs USF point spread: USF -6 (-110 ), Temple +6 (-110)
- Temple vs USF over/under: 49.5 (-112o / -110u)
- Temple vs USF moneyline: Temple +195, USF -240
Temple vs USF College Football Preview
I'm going back to the well with another South Florida fade after lowly Bowling Green got an easy cover for us last week.
I'd argue South Florida comes into this week as one of the more overrated teams in the nation. Yes, the Bulls own a perfect 4-0 record, but they easily could have lost all three of their games vs. FBS foes:
- outgained, 381-208, by FIU, which went 3-of-7 on fourth downs
- trailed Army by 10 with a few minutes to go before scoring a pair of late touchdowns, including one on fourth down in the final seconds
- Bowling Green led, 6-0, in the fourth quarter last week and finished with only seven fewer yards (214-207)
It has not looked pretty despite an extremely favorable schedule.
Conversely, Temple comes into this game with a 1-3 record but easily could have two more wins.
Toledo somehow pulled off a miraculous win in overtime after facing fourth-and-8 from its own 19-yard line, trailing by 14 with two minutes to go. That will go down as one of the most improbable wins of the entire season.
The Owls also lost last week by four against Army in a game they dominated statistically (459-315 yardage edge) despite finding themselves in a brutal situational spot with the Knights coming off a bye and Temple playing on a short week against a unique offense following a heartbreaking road loss.
Temple has also played the much more difficult schedule (51st vs. 169th, per Sagarin) so far this season.
The Owls also own a massive coaching edge on the sidelines with K.C. Keeler, who has won multiple FCS national titles, vs. Brian Hartline, who will coach just his fifth career game. The Owls will also benefit from an extra day of rest and prep here.
USF is playing much slower this season, and the offense completely lacks explosiveness, which makes it much more difficult to build a margin in the favorite role. Temple should have a very good chance of pulling off this upset.
For what it's worth, I haven't bet this game yet since I'm waiting to see if a +7 pops first.
Pick: Temple +6.5 (Play to +6)
