The Temple Owls (1-2) are in Connecticut to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (3-0) for the Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase game Friday. Tip-off from Mohegan Sun Arena is at 5 p.m. ET (ESPNU). Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook’s lines around the Temple vs. Rutgers odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets.
The Owls have a season-opening 76-73 overtime loss to Wagner on Nov. 7 and an 89-87 overtime loss to Vanderbilt Tuesday wrapped around a 68-64 victory over Villanova last Friday, although ‘Nova was missing 2 of its starters. Temple has started slow and will take on a Scarlet Knights team who has yet to lose in the young season.
Rutgers has only played real competition once in the early season — a 73-65 win against UMass Lowell in its last game Saturday. Rutgers routed Sacred Heart 88-50 Nov. 10 and handled Columbia 75-35 Nov. 7. While Temple is not starting off strong, it will still be the toughest game thus far for the Knights who will look to remain unbeaten before heading into Big Ten play.
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