The AAC offers up a bit of a mismatch to watch and bet when SMU tackles Temple Friday night in Philadelphia. The Mustangs are 2-0 in conference play and expected to contend for the conference title. The Owls, on the other hand, are 0-3 in the AAC and playing without their starting quarterback.

SMU is favored by three touchdowns on the road. How are we betting this game with our free college football pick?

NCAAF Betting Odds

This week's college football betting market opened SMU at -18.5 for Friday night, with an over/under of right around 57. Early betting action then bumped the Mustangs to -20.5 and dipped that total to 54.5.

SMU-Temple Betting Preview

The Mustangs are 2-0 in AAC play after winning at East Carolina last Thursday night 31-10. SMU scored the first 14 points of the game but went cold and only led 14-10 into the fourth quarter. The Mustangs then scored the last 17 points to secure the victory and the cover at -12.

SMU out-gained the Pirates 334-290 and won the turnover battle 2-0, creating a +10 points differential.

Two games ago the Mustangs opened their AAC slate with a 34-16 win over Charlotte. SMU, favored by 23 points, led that game 27-3 late in the third quarter before taking its foot off the gas and eschewing the cover.

The Mustangs returned 16 starters this season from a team that played 5-3 in the AAC last season. So SMU is fully expected to contend for the conference title.

Meanwhile, the Owls tote a four-game losing skid into Friday after falling at North Texas last Saturday 45-14. Temple only trailed the Mean Green 21-14 well into the second quarter but gave up the last 24 points of the game and whiffed ATS at +7.5.

The Owls got gouged for 527 yards of North Texas offense and lost the turnover battle 3-0.

Three games ago, Temple opened its AAC slate with a 48-26 loss at Tulsa, then lost to UTSA 49-34. So the Owls’ last three games have all played out along a similar line; they hang around for a while - a half, maybe three quarters - then get blown out.

Temple also returned 16 starters this season from a team that played 1-7 in the AAC last season. But the talent level just isn’t enough for the Owls to contend.

On the injury front, Temple quarterback EJ Warner missed last week’s game, apparently dealing with the after-effects of a concussion, and he’s listed as questionable for Friday night.

These teams met most recently three seasons ago, a 47-23 Mustangs win also in Philadelphia.

Totals Report

The Unders are 5-1 in Mustangs games this season, which are averaging 50 total points.

The Unders are 4-3 in Owls games, which are averaging 57 points.