Author: Matt Fargo - Sunday, June 04, 2006

#119 - Temple Owls 0-11 SU; 5-6 ATS

Fargo's Take: Temple was easily the worst team in football last season but if there is any good news from that, it is that the Owls have no where to go but up. Temple finished 114th in the country in total defense and dead last in total offense, getting outscored by an average of 35.5 ppg. Seven touchdowns per game is impossible to make up and that will certainly make first year coach Al Golden's job that much more difficult. Getting rid of Bobby Wallace was the best move it could have done but he put the program so deep into a hole that it could take years for it to recover. After spending last season as an Independent, Temple will compete in the MAC this season and that could be good for a couple wins at some point. One very encouraging sign is that the Owls incoming class was rated the best in the conference by numerous sources. Unfortunately, it won't make a huge impact this year.

Returning Starters on Offense - 5 This offense was the worst in the nation last year as it was the only team in all of I-A that averaged single digits in points. The Owls failed to top 17 points in any game and they scored a touchdown or less six times. The offense will be under the direction of George DeLeone who has 35 years of coaching experience so his leadership should benefit right away. The running game will be important since there is little experience at quarterback with three sophomores competing for the starting position. Expect a slight improvement but nothing off the charts.

Returning Starters on Defense - 3 Similar to the offense, the defense was horrible in 2005, allowing fewer than 34 points only once while giving up at least 450 total yards of offense in eight of its 11 games. With just three players returning on the unit, it could actually be beneficial starting from scratch. There is some decent experience returning in the secondary and at linebacker but the entire defensive front needs to be replaced. Under new defensive coordinator Mark D'Onofrio, the Owls will be switching to a new 3-4 defense with multiple coverage formations and fronts.

Schedule A switch to a MAC slate is a definite plus for Temple who faced seven bowl teams on its 2005 schedule. Six MAC contests are on the schedule starting right off with a game at Buffalo in the opener. The Owls get three home games against Bowling Green, Kent and Central Michigan, the latter two being winnable contests. The non-conference schedule is a bear as they face five bowl teams along with an improved Vanderbilt squad. Louisville and Clemson are the two home games from the non-conference portion, neither of which should even be close.

You can bet on... The first game is usually the most important game for most teams but it is even more so for the Owls. The game at Buffalo is the surest thing to a win so if they lose that contest, it could easily send the team in yet another downward spiral. A win, which would be the first in 12 games, could give this team enough confidence to pound out a three-win season. Since 2003, Temple is 1-26 against 1-A teams with Syracuse being the only victim two years ago. That is not a good track record for success but the Owls have gone 18-13-2 against the number over the last three years so while they are not a good team on the scoreboard, they have put money in the pockets of their backers thanks to getting an inordinate number of points. Another profitable year in 2006 is a definite possibility.

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