New Mexico Bowl: Temple Owls vs. Wyoming Cowboys

The Temple Owls (8-4) and Wyoming Cowboys (8-4) will meet up Saturday afternoon in the New Mexico Bowl.

Temple Owls at Wyoming Cowboys

Temple Owls are making their fourth bowl appearance in school history

Temple missed out on receiving a bowl bid with eight wins a year ago, but the program will get an opportunity to play in the postseason Saturday.  “You always feel better when you win your bowl game, it’s the last game, it’s our ninth win,” commented Owls first-year head coach Steve Addazio.

The Owls are led offensively by running back Bernard Pierce, who ranks third in major college football with 25 touchdowns and 13th with 1,381 rushing yards.  He’s the nation’s sixth-leading rusher in averaging 125.5 yards per game.

Pierce’s ability to dominate on the ground played a major part in the team ranking seventh nationally in averaging 256.7 rushing yards per game during the regular season.  It’s still important to note that the Owls are 117th nationally in passing for just over 123 yards per game.

Temple outscored its opponents by 16.2 points per game and scored at least 34 points in seven of its victories.  Live-betting players will be interested in knowing that the team scored on its opening drive in eight of 12 games.

Sophomore quarterback Chris Coyer hurt his throwing shoulder against the Kent State Golden Flashes on Nov. 25 and is listed as probable to play in this contest.  The Owls have started three different signal-callers this year, but he’s best suited to run this offense.

Bettors will find that the Owls are 10-1 ATS in non-conference action, while the ‘over’ has cashed in their last four games.

Wyoming finished third in the Mountain West Conference behind the TCU Horned Frogs and Boise State Broncos, but will have its hands full in playing Saturday’s opponent.  “They run the ball really well,” commented Cowboys head coach Dave Christensen.  “Defensively, they are in the top five in the country.”

The Cowboys will be making their 13th bowl appearance in history, coming in with a 6-6 record in bowl competition.  Wyoming won the 2009 New Mexico Bowl, tallying a 35-28 win over the Fresno State Bulldogs.

Picking up a victory against a quality opponent would be the perfect way to cap off a great season, as the program is one of the top three most improve teams this year after going 3-9 a year ago.

Freshman quarterback Brett Smith was a major part of the team’s turnaround, finishing third in the conference with a 126.2 passer rating, throwing for 2,495 yards and 18 touchdowns with just eight interceptions.

Bettors will find that the Cowboys are 5-1 ATS as an underdog of 3.5 to 10 points, while going 17-8 ATS overall when getting points overall in that span.

Recommendation: Wyoming Cowboys +7