Army vs Temple Prediction, Pick & Spread for Friday College Football

• Army visits Temple on Friday at 4 p.m. ET to open the Week 4 college football weekend
• The Black Knights return from a bye while the Owls regroup after an overtime loss
• My Army vs Temple prediction, spread pick and latest odds are below

Army (1-1) heads to Philadelphia to face Temple (1-2) on Friday, September 25. Kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field is set for 4 p.m. ET on ESPN, with both teams trying to recover from narrow defeats.

The Black Knights had a bye after losing 28-24 to South Florida. The Owls have a quicker turnaround following a 49-48 overtime loss at Toledo, where a failed two-point conversion ended their comeback bid in the extra period.

My Army vs Temple prediction weighs that rest advantage against a home offense that found its running game last week. Below, I break down the spread and total before comparing the latest odds.

Army vs Temple Prediction & Pick

• Spread pick: Temple +3.5 (-115 at theScore Bet)

I am taking the points with Temple. Getting more than a field goal matters in a matchup where Army can drain several minutes on one possession. A three-point Black Knights win would still cash this spread, and I expect the Owls to keep it competitive.

Temple rushed for 261 yards at Toledo, with Samuel Brown supplying 109 on 15 carries. He scored twice on the ground and once as a receiver. Quarterback Ajani Sheppard added 66 rushing yards and a touchdown, giving the Owls another way to sustain drives.

Army presents a different test. Godspower Nwawuihe carried 20 times for 94 yards against USF, and the Black Knights held the ball for 35:46. Temple needs to avoid giving up easy gains on early downs that leave Army with manageable third downs.

The encouraging part for the home underdog is that Toledo managed only 107 rushing yards. The concern is the 429 passing yards Temple allowed. Cale Hellums threw just 10 passes in Army’s last game, but completed nine, including two touchdowns. I would not dismiss the play-action threat.

Army’s extra preparation time is the strongest argument against my pick. Still, I prefer Temple with the extra half-point to asking the road favorite to create separation. I would reassess if the spread dropped to +3 rather than treating those numbers as interchangeable.

Army vs Temple Total Pick

• Total lean: Under 47.5 (+100 at theScore Bet)

The Under is my secondary lean. Army’s long possessions can limit how often either offense gets the ball, and Temple also showed it can move the chains on the ground. That gives me a reasonable case for fewer scoring opportunities.

There is a real counterargument: Temple scored 42 points in regulation last week before adding six in overtime. Army also surrendered two late touchdowns against USF. I am leaning on the pace of this matchup, rather than assuming either defense will suddenly shut everything down.

What the Recent Results Tell Me

Army’s 59-3 win over FCS Bryant should not carry the same weight as its conference opener. The Black Knights rushed for 219 yards against USF but could not protect a 24-14 lead with under five minutes remaining.

Temple opened with a 38-14 win over Rhode Island, then lost 27-9 to Penn State before the Toledo shootout. That uneven start is why I favor the points over the outright upset. One productive afternoon does not erase the Owls’ defensive concerns.

Army vs Temple Spread & Odds

theScore Bet odds checked September 24 for Friday’s game. New customers can check the theScore Bet promo code offer before signing up.

The college football odds make Army the road favorite, but Temple can cover without winning. I am paying -115 for that protection rather than chasing the +135 moneyline. Compare the spread and price across College Football betting apps before placing a wager.

How to Watch Army vs Temple

• Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
• Kickoff: 4 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
• Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia