| MATCHUP | Rhode Island Rams | Temple Owls |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| Spread | +14.5 -110 | -14.5 -110 |
| Moneyline | +500 | -700 |
| Total | Over 51.5 (-102) | Under 51.5 (-118) |
| Where | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA | |
| When | Saturday, September 5, 2026 | |
| Time | 02:00 PM EDT | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
Rhode Island Rams Betting Preview
The Rams had a pretty impressive year overall in 2025, but they didn’t get far in the postseason. Rhode Island ended up with an 11-3 record and a stellar 8-0 run in the CAA, which obviously put the team in the top slot as the regular-season champs. Unfortunately for the Rams however, they lost their NCAA Division I Second Round matchup versus UC Davis in a relative blowout 47-26.
In their first game of the season, the Rams took on Merrimack. In that one Rhode Island didn’t have too many issues, hitting the scoreboard in every quarter on the way to a 34-7 win. QB Tyler Budge had 128 yards and a TD on 13-of-29 passing and Brendon Barrow added 13 carries for 56 yards. Marquis Buchanan caught six balls for 72 yards and a TD of his own.
Temple Owls Betting Preview
Over on the Temple side, they had a fairly disappointing campaign a season ago. The Owls managed to go just 5-7 overall with a 3-5 run among the American Conference. That would put the team ahead of Florida Atlantic, Rice, UAB, Tulsa and Charlotte in the standings but out of a bowl appearance. Four straight losses to finish off the season didn’t help.
Moving on to 2026, the Owls will see what head coach KC Keeler can do in his second year at the helm. Temple does look like they can take a step forward on paper, as there are some options at QB and an experienced offensive line working in their favor. The Owls also have returning weapons Peter Clarke (TE) and Jayce Freeman (WR) at their disposal.
Rhode Island Rams @ Temple Owls Betting Trends: Week 1
Why the Temple Owls will win
- Temple has won each of its last 13 games as a favorite.
- Temple has covered the spread in six of its last seven games as a favorite.
Why the Rhode Island Rams will win
- Temple has lost four of its last five home games.
- Temple has failed to cover the spread in four of its last five games.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Temple’s last four games as a favorite against non-AP-ranked teams have gone OVER the total points line.
Temple Owls Player Prop Facts
- JoJo Bermudez was one of only 55 players in the FBS to record 500 receiving yards with less than 40 receptions last season.
Matchup/League Facts
- Temple ranked T127th among FBS teams for Q1 opponent points per game last season (8.7).
- Temple ranked T126th among FBS teams for red zone percentage against last season (91.1).
Rhode Island vs Temple Prediction
I’ll try Temple in this one. The Owls haven’t been to a bowl game in six straight seasons now, but 2026 could be the one. Temple’s main concern this year will be emerging victorious in close games, as they lost a handful of tight ones last season. The Owls do have a good core group of guys with much-needed experience on the defensive side of the ball however, as well as a pretty good special teams roster.
As for Rhode Island, they didn’t have any trouble with Merrimack thanks to four takeaways and 4-of-14 on third downs allowed by the defense. Offensively it was a pretty pedestrian effort considering the circumstances, but the Rams didn’t have to put up too many points anyway. This one’s going to be where the real competition starts.