Oklahoma Sooners running back Gavin Sawchuk (27) celebrates after a touchdown during a college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Oklahoma won 69-45.
- Oklahoma is a massive 42-point favorite over Temple in their 2024 season opener and SEC debut
- The Sooners return star RB Gavin Sawchuk and an elite defense, while Temple has major questions at QB
- Read below for Temple vs Oklahoma predictions, odds, spread and H2H history for Friday night
The Oklahoma Sooners kick off their inaugural season in the SEC with a Friday night matchup against the Temple Owls on August 30, 2024. The game, which will be broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 PM EDT, takes place at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, OK.
Oklahoma enters this game as a massive 42-point favorite over Temple, with the over/under set at 58 points. The Sooners are ranked #16 in the preseason polls as they begin a new era in the SEC, while Temple is coming off a 3-9 season in the AAC.
With the eyes of the college football world watching, Oklahoma has a prime opportunity to make an early statement.
Temple vs Oklahoma Prediction
Temple is coming off three straight 3-9 seasons and is not expected to be competitive in 2024. The Owls have major question marks at QB, with Forrest Brock, Evan Simon, and freshman Tyler Douglas competing for the starting job. Brock, who made 15 pass attempts last year, is listed as the starter on the initial depth chart.
The Owls do return leading receiver Dante Wright (39 catches, 507 yards) and RB Joquez Smith (71 carries, 325 yards). However, an inexperienced quarterback and a defense that ranked 129th in scoring last season (35.7 ppg allowed) will make it extremely difficult for Temple to keep this game close.
Oklahoma has high expectations entering their first SEC season despite losing starting QB Dillon Gabriel. Five-star recruit Jackson Arnold takes over after throwing for 563 yards and 4 TDs in limited action last year.
Arnold will be supported by a strong running back duo of Gavin Sawchuk (744 yards, 9 TDs) and Jovantae Barnes, along with an elite receiving corps featuring Nic Anderson, Jalil Farooq, and Purdue transfer Deion Burks.
The Sooners also boast a talented defense led by preseason All-SEC linebacker Danny Stutsman (104 tackles) and safety Billy Bowman (6 INTs). Oklahoma held opponents to just 23.5 points per game last season, good for 46th in the nation.
— ² (@Billy2Bowman) December 9, 2023
I’ve got to lay the lumber with Oklahoma at home in this spot. The combination of OU’s SEC debut and simply having far superior talent will be too much for the Owls to handle. Temple’s best chance is to slow the game down and limit possessions, but that’s easier said than done against this lethal Sooners attack.
With a massive talent advantage on both sides of the ball, expect Oklahoma to win this game handily. The Sooners beat Arkansas State 73-0 in their 2023 opener and have won 17 straight home openers. Furthermore, OU was 5-1 ATS as a home favorite last year, while Temple was 0-5 ATS on the road.
- Pick: Oklahoma -42 (-110)
Temple vs Oklahoma Odds
Oklahoma is currently a 42-point favorite over Temple in the CFB odds, with an over/under of 58 points. The Sooners have an implied 96.5% probability of winning based on the -4500 moneyline odds.
The massive spread reflects the vast talent disparity between these two programs. Oklahoma is ranked 16th in the preseason polls and is expected to compete for an SEC title in their first year in the conference. Temple, meanwhile, is projected to finish at the bottom of the AAC after three straight losing seasons.
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple | +42.5 (-110) | N/A | Over 57.5 (-110) |
| Oklahoma | -42.5 (-110) | N/A | Under 57.5 (-110) |
The relatively low over/under of 58 points suggests that oddsmakers expect Oklahoma’s defense to dominate an overmatched Temple offense. The Owls averaged just 21.1 points per game last season (107th in FBS) and will be starting an inexperienced quarterback.
It’s worth noting that Oklahoma failed to cover large spreads in two games last season – a 66-17 win over Tulsa as 31.5-point favorites and a 38-24 loss to Arizona as 8.5-point favorites in the Alamo Bowl. However, the Sooners did crush Arkansas State 73-0 as 50.5-point favorites in their 2023 opener.
Odds as of Thursday, August 29, at ESPN Sportsbook. Claim the ESPN Bet promo to make an OU vs Temple prediction for Friday night.
Oklahoma vs Temple H2H History
Oklahoma and Temple have only met twice before, splitting the series 1-1. But those games were in 1940 and 1942, so they provide little predictive insight for this matchup 82 years later.
| Date | Result | Temple ATS | Oklahoma ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11/21/1942 | Temple 14, Oklahoma 7 | – | – |
| 10/5/1940 | Oklahoma 14, Temple 0 | – | – |
The Owls actually won the last meeting 14-7 in Philadelphia on November 21, 1942. So while Oklahoma fans may want some revenge for that loss, none of the current players were alive to see it.
With no recent head-to-head history to examine, bettors will have to focus on the apparent mismatch in current talent and 2023 performance. If you’re worried about the Sooners resting starters in the second half, we’d look at the first-half spread of OU
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The highly anticipated matchup between Temple and Oklahoma on Friday, August 30th is sure to be an exciting game for college football fans. Both teams have a strong history of success and will be looking to start their season off on the right foot.
In terms of predictions, Oklahoma is the clear favorite in this matchup. The Sooners are ranked as one of the top teams in the country and have a potent offense led by star quarterback Jalen Hurts. Temple, on the other hand, is coming off a solid season but will have their work cut out for them against such a formidable opponent.
The odds also favor Oklahoma in this game, with many sportsbooks listing them as heavy favorites to come out on top. The spread for the game is currently set at around 20 points, indicating that oddsmakers believe Oklahoma will win by a comfortable margin.
When looking at the head-to-head history between these two teams, it becomes clear that Oklahoma has had the upper hand in previous matchups. The Sooners have won all three of their previous meetings with Temple, including a dominant 63-14 victory in their most recent matchup in 2015.
Overall, all signs point to Oklahoma being the team to beat in this matchup. However, college football is known for its unpredictability, so anything can happen on game day. Fans can expect an exciting and competitive game between these two talented teams as they kick off their seasons in style.