2009 EagleBank Bowl UCLA vs. Temple Start Time, TV Guide & Odds
Washington, D.C. - UCLA passed over Al Golden in favor of Rick Neuheisel when it picked a coach two years ago.
Though a superb season with Temple has improved his credentials, Golden insists he's not leaving anytime soon.
Golden has the Owls in their first bowl game in 30 years, facing Neuheisel and the inconsistent Bruins in the EagleBank Bowl on Dec. 29 at RFK Stadium.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sports Interaction have made UCLA –3.5 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for Saturday’s game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 75% of bets for this game have been placed on UCLA –3.5 (View College Football bet percentages).
Temple went 4-8 in 2007, its second season under Golden. Still, Golden interviewed twice for the UCLA job that eventually went to Neuheisel.
The Bruins went 4-8 under Neuheisel in 2008 before going 6-6 this season and backing their way into a bowl. Temple (9-3), meanwhile, went 5-7 last season, but is now playing its most meaningful late-December game since beating California 28-17 in the 1979 Garden State Bowl.
This is the first meeting between Temple and UCLA.
"It feels good because of where we were," said Golden, the Mid-American Conference coach of the year.
This is the Owls' fourth winning season in the past 30 years. They went 10-2 in 1979, 6-5 in '84 and 7-4 in '90.
Due to Temple's turnaround, Golden is widely considered one of the top targets for teams looking for a new coach. Golden insists he doesn't have any interviews lined up, though he had been mentioned as a contender for the Cincinnati job that was given to Central Michigan's Butch Jones.
The Owls have been rewarded for their patience with Golden, who went 1-11 in 2006 after taking over an 0-11 team.
Temple, however, had a nine-game winning streak snapped in its last contest, losing 35-17 to Ohio. That kept the Owls out of the conference championship game.
Temple ran for more than 200 yards for the sixth straight game even though it was without Bernard Pierce, sidelined by a left shoulder injury. The MAC freshman of the year should return for this matchup after leading the conference with 1,308 yards rushing and finishing second with 15 touchdowns.
Matt Brown, another Owls freshman, is second on the team with 455 rushing yards, 328 over his last two games. Temple is ranked 23rd in the nation in rushing, averaging 192.3 yards a contest.
The Owls' defense, meanwhile, is ranked 19th against the run, giving up an average of 108.8 yards.
Sophomore Adrian Robinson, who had 12 sacks and was picked as the conference's defensive player of the year, is one of a school-record eight players named to the all-MAC first team.
UCLA has had an inconsistent season even though it has four All-Americans, opening with three straight wins before losing its next five. The Bruins had another three-game winning streak snapped in their last game, losing 28-7 to then-No. 24 Southern California on Nov. 28.
UCLA was the last team to make it into the postseason, getting in following Navy's 17-3 victory over Army on Saturday. Had they won, the Black Knights would be facing Temple.
This is the Bruins' first bowl game since losing 17-16 to BYU in the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl.
"We are excited to have the opportunity to play in the EagleBank Bowl," Neuheisel said. "We have a lot of respect for what coach Golden has accomplished at Temple and we are looking forward to a great game."
The Bruins have two second-team All-Americans, safety Rahim Moore and kicker Kai Forbath. Moore, a sophomore, leads the nation with nine interceptions and Forbath won the Lou Groza Award honoring the nation's best kicker.
Forbath went 26 for 29 on field goals, with all of his misses coming from beyond 50 yards.
UCLA has two third-team All-Americans, junior defensive tackle Brian Price and senior cornerback Alterraun Verner. Price has 34 1/2 tackles for loss in his last 21 games, and Verner has five INTs this season.
The Bruins have been held under 20 points six times. Freshman quarterback Kevin Prince has had trouble settling down, completing 56.7 percent of his passes for 1,829 yards and six TDs while getting picked off seven times.
Prince has not thrown a touchdown pass in his last two games while completing less than half of his attempts.
2009 EagleBank Bowl
Teams: UCLA vs. Temple
Kickoff: Dec. 29, 2009, 4:30PM ET
Venue: RFK Stadium
TV: ESPN
Odds:
UCLA -3.5 Over 46
Temple +3.5 Under 46
2009 EagleBank Bowl Temple vs. UCLA Picks & Predictions
Temple looks to end an 11-game bowl losing streak for the Mid-American Conference when it faces UCLA Tuesday at 4:30PM ET in the 2009 EagleBank Bowl from RFK Stadium.
Temple is 9-3 this season and 8-3 against the spread. The Owls were on a nine-game winning streak before losing their season finale to Ohio, 35-17. Temple has covered in two of its last three games.
UCLA is 6-6 on the year and 6-6 against the spread. The Bruins won three of their last four games to become bowl eligible and have covered in two of their last three.
Oddsmakers from online sports book Sports Interaction have made UCLA 4.5-point favorites over Temple on Tuesday night. The over/under total for this game has been established at 45.5.
Temple is scoring 30.3 points per-game in the MAC thanks to a solid rushing attack. Bernard Pierce has rushed for 1,308 yards and 15 touchdowns this year to lead the Owls. On defense, UCLA is holding opponents to just 21.3 points per-game and 338 yards per-game.
UCLA is scoring only 21.3 points per-game and the Bruins have been a pass-heavy team, as their passing yards nearly double their rushing total. Kevin Prince has thrown for 1,829 yards in 10 games and has six touchdown passes, but also has seven interceptions. Prince is banged up, but likely to play. The Owls are holding teams to 21.7 points per-game, but have struggled against the pass, as they allow 226.8 yards per-game through the air.
This game will likely come down to sheer talent and depth. There is a reason the MAC has lost 11-straight bowl games and it is because the talent level of that conference just can’t compete with the talent in bigger conference, especially the Pac-10. Though UCLA has not done well on offense this year, it should be able to move the ball on the Owls and the Bruins defense should have more speed than Temple has seen all year. Trends may say otherwise, but the fact that the MAC has lost 11-straight bowl games, and most have been to mediocre teams, tells us to go with UCLA and the under for this game.
Our EagleBank Bowl Free Pick for this matchup is: UCLA -4.5 and UNDER 45.5
College Football Bowl Season Betting Trends
UCLA is 2-12 ATS (-11.2 Units) in road games after a bye week since 1992.
TEMPLE is 23-11 ATS (+10.9 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
TEMPLE is 23-11 ATS (+10.9 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
TEMPLE is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
TEMPLE is 14-4 ATS (+9.6 Units) in games played on a grass field over the last 3 seasons.
UCLA is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games
UCLA is 3-6 SU in its last 9 games
Temple is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games
Temple is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games
Bowl Season College Football Injury Report
UCLA
[QB] 12/14/2009 - Kevin Prince probable vs. Temple in the Eagle Bank Bowl. ( Shoulder )
[OG] 12/28/2009 - Ryan Taylor is upgraded to probable Tuesday vs. Temple ( Foot )
[TE] 12/20/2009 - Nate Chandler doubtful vs. Temple in the Eagle Bank Bowl. ( Quad )
[OG] 12/24/2009 - Eddie Williams expected to miss Tuesday vs. Temple ( Ankle )
[C] 12/24/2009 - Kai Maiava expected to miss Tuesday vs. Temple ( Academics )
[LB] 12/25/2009 - Reggie Carter probable Tuesday vs. Temple ( Knee )
[DB] 12/25/2009 - Marlon Pollard expected to miss Tuesday vs. Temple ( Facial )
- 12/28/2009 - Stan Hasiak expected to miss Tuesday vs. Temple ( Disciplinary )
TEMPLE
- 10/16/2009 - Derek Dennis out for season ( Knee )
[RB] 12/07/2009 - Bernard Pierce is upgraded to probable for the Eagle Bank Bowl. ( Shoulder )
EagleBank Bowl Odds
Temple Owls +4.5 Over 45.5 (+170)
UCLA Bruins -4.5 Under 45.5 (-200)