It’s a great game for the diehard college football fans, and the Akron Zips vs. Temple Owls prediction tells us all about two teams looking to take steps forward in the win column this year. Both the Zips and the Owls have offenses worth watching, so buckle up for the fun.
Akron vs. Temple Betting and DFS Preview
- Spread
Temple -10 - Moneyline
Temple -375, Akron +295 - Over/Under
56.5 total points - Game time
2 p.m. ET - Location
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA - Predicted Weather at Kick
83 degrees, clear, 6 mph winds - How to Watch
FuboTV, ESPN+
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Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
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Akron Depth Chart | Temple Depth Chart
- QB DJ Irons, Akron
- WR Alex Adams, Akron
- WR Daniel George, Akron
- RB Lorenzo Lingard, Akron
- RB Drake Anderson, Akron
- TE TJ Banks, Akron
- QB EJ Warner, Temple
- RB Edward Saydee, Temple
- WR Dante Wright, Temple
- WR Amad Anderson Jr., Temple
- TE David Martin-Robinson, Temple
While no DFS picks are listed at the time of writing, both teams have quality fantasy players to watch.
Joe Moorhead’s offense showed flashes last year when DJ Irons was healthy, and it’s an offense that should take a step forward with the talent around him. Irons is a dual-threat nightmare at his peak, and the Zips staff is excited to see him after a year of experience.
Irons will lead the charge running the ball, but Lorenzo Lingard and Drake Anderson come in via the transfer portal to give them two solid options.
This should be an incredibly balanced offense if the passing attack takes a step forward. Alex Adams, Daniel George, and tight end TJ Banks all give the Zips reliable pass-catchers and good fantasy values.
Temple’s offense exploded last year, and they can still improve. EJ Warner appears set to take another step in his development, and the Owls air raid can be even more lethal when that happens.
Amad Anderson returns to give him a go-to pass catcher, but Colorado State transfer Dante Wright could be a star. In the backfield, Edward Saydee remains one of the most underrated players in the country. He’s a tough runner who can make some highlight reel catches, too.
Prediction for Akron vs. Temple
It was a tough start for Akron last year. After barely beating St. Francis (PA) in overtime, the Zips lost the next two games by a combined 115-6. It shouldn’t be as bad this year, but they still must have strong showings early for the fanbase to see progress.
Moorhead’s a great offensive mind with a special playmaker in Irons, so that’s a solid piece to build around this year. The offense appears to be a solid unit, and hopefully, that means less volatility in 2023.
Their defense matches up against a talented Temple offense, so the team’s success could be measured by how well this unit handles explosive offenses. Bubba Arslanian returns to continue tackling anything that moves, but he can’t do it all by himself.
There was a hopeful feeling surrounding the Temple program last year. They didn’t want a 3-9 finish, but the last portion of the season saw the offense take great strides. Except for the Cincinnati game, they had no trouble scoring points.
Warner plays a huge role in the continuity of the offensive firepower. He clearly put in the work to become the start, and the results spoke for themselves. He threw for 1,524 yards and ten touchdowns in his final four games, and the Owls coaching staff hopes he can build upon that in 2023.
It really comes down to the defense. Temple was a feast or famine defense at times in 2022. They were really good at being disruptive (13th in sacks and 28th in tackles for loss) but gave up a ton of yards and nearly 30 points a game.
This is a good first test for this team. Akron’s offense will test Temple, and it gives the Owls a chance to lock in together. Linebackers Layton Jordan and Jordan Magee are stars, with Yvandy Rigby joining them as an underrated weapon.
If the Owls can slow down Irons early, it might frustrate Akron enough into turnovers. The Zips were -13 in turnover margin (128th in the country), and that could give Temple more chances to score and put this game away.
Prediction
Temple 31 Akron 21