Temple vs. UCF Prediction: Spread, Total Points, Moneyline Picks – Thursday, March 2, 2023

March 2, 2023, by Andy Molitor College Basketball Predictions

The Temple Owls (15-14, 9-7 AAC) host the UCF Knights (16-12, 7-9 AAC) at Liacouras Center on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET on ESPNU. The sportsbooks see an even contest, listing the game as a pick ’em. The matchup has an over/under of 134.5.

Temple vs. UCF Odds

Temple odds to win: -112
UCF odds to win: -108
Spread: Pick ’em
Total: 134.5

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Game Time and Information

Date: Thursday, March 2, 2023
Time: 7:00 PM ET
TV: ESPNU
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Venue: Liacouras Center

Who Will Win Temple vs. UCF?

Temple and UCF Betting Trends, Records Against the Spread

Between them, these two teams average 7.7 more points per game (142.2) than this game’s total (134.5).

Opponents of the two teams average a combined 1.2 more points per game (135.7) than this matchup’s over/under of 134.5 points.

The average total Temple has had set in games this season is 5.5 more points than this outing’s point total.

The average total for Knights games this season is 3.5 more points than the point total of 134.5 in this outing.

So far this season, the Owls have compiled a 15-11-3 record against the spread.

The Knights’ ATS record is 14-13-1 this season.

Temple Stats & Insights

Temple scores 70.1 points per game (215th in college basketball) and allows 69.8 (175th in college basketball) for a +9 scoring differential overall.

Temple ranks 175th in the country at 31.8 rebounds per game. That’s similar to the 31.5 its opponents average.

The Owls hit 8.1 three-pointers per game (100th in college basketball) at a 33.7% rate (215th in college basketball), compared to the 6.4 per game their opponents make at a 33% rate.

Temple averages 91.4 points per 100 possessions (239th in college basketball), while allowing 91 points per 100 possessions (169th in college basketball).

The Owls are putting up 73 points per game in home games. When playing on the road, they are averaging 67.8 points per contest.

UCF Stats & Insights

UCF’s +175 scoring differential (outscoring opponents by 6.2 points per game) is a result of putting up 72.1 points per game (173rd in college basketball) while giving up 65.9 per contest (66th in college basketball).

UCF wins the rebound battle by 2.1 boards on average. It records 31.4 rebounds per game, 202nd in college basketball, while its opponents grab 29.3.

UCF connects on 9 three-pointers per game (34th in college basketball) at a 36.3% rate (68th in college basketball), compared to the 6.6 per game its opponents make, at a 31% rate.

UCF ranks 184th in college basketball averaging 93.7 points per 100 possessions on offense, and defensively is 48th, allowing 85.6 points per 100 possessions.

The Knights are putting up more points at home (76.8 per game) than on the road (67.7).

Temple Key Players to Watch

Khalif Battle leads the Owls in scoring, tallying 18 points per game to go with 3.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists.

Zach Hicks leads Temple in rebounding, averaging 5.2 per game, while Hysier Miller leads the team in assists, distributing an average of 3.8 in each contest.

Battle makes more threes per game than any other member of the Owls, knocking down shots from beyond the arc at a clip of 2.9 per contest.

The Temple steals leader is Miller, who averages 1.2 takeaways per game, while its blocks leader is Nick Jourdain, who compiles 1.1 rejections per contest.

UCF Key Players to Watch

The Knights’ leader in scoring and rebounding is Taylor Hendricks with 15.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game.

CJ Kelly’s assist statline paces UCF; he dishes out 2.9 assists per game.

Ithiel Horton is the top shooter from deep for the Knights, hitting 2.4 threes per game.

UCF’s leader in steals is Horton with 1.3 per game, and its leader in blocks is Hendricks with 1.6 per game.