College Football Week 1 continues today and we will see the Temple Owls travel to the South Bend, Indiana to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The start time is 3:30 pm (Eastern) and the game will be televised on NBC. Current Odds have Notre Dame listed as 29.5 point favorites, while the total sits at 53.
Analysis: Back in 2011, the Temple Owls went 9-4 on the year, but last year they took a couple of steps back, going 4-7. Now Matt Rhule is the new coach and with 53 lettermen, including 14 starters he has a shot at getting the Owls back to respectability. Last year Temple averaged just 120 passing yards per game in 2012, which was among the worst in the country. QB Reilly has the potential to be a true threat as a drop-back passer if the Owls WR's step up and make some plays. They do have 6 of their top 7 pass catchers back from last year, but the running game is where the big questions on this offense come about as no proven backs will be in the starting line up. Defensively the Owls were horrendous, compared to 2011, as they allowed a whopping 17.3 ppg and 125 ypg more than they did in 2011. Six starters do return, including their top linebacker Tyler Matakevich, who had over 100 tackles as a freshman. The Owls are 2-75 against ranked teams since 1974.
What a year it was for the Irish last year as they went 12-1 overall and played in the National Title game, but unfortunately their year ended badly with a blowout loss to Alabama in the big game. This year Brian Kelly has 14 starters back, but they will lose the heart and soul of their team in Manti T'eo. Last year the Irish allowed just 12.8 ppg and 305 ypg and even though Manti is not with them this year, this group still have a chance to be just as good as 2012's edition. The LB's and DL are rated in the top 7 in the nation, while the secondary will be much improved. On offense the Irish have Tommy Ress at QB, after Golson was suspended for the year. The Irish do lose their top 2 RB's from last year and perhaps the best TE in football in Tyler Eifert, but they also bring back their top 2 WR starters and their stable of RB's is deep with George Atkinson taking over this year, plus they have one of the better OL's in the country.
Pick: Notre Dame's year ended badly last year and I expect them to take it out on the Owls in this one. I know ND has Michigan on deck, but still Kelly will want his team sharp here and a blowout win would send them to the Michigan with some momentum. Irish by 35 in this one.
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