In Week 8 of the 2025 season, the Temple Owls will travel to Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, NC, to take on the Charlotte 49ers. Both teams are members of the American Conference, bringing an additional layer of competition to the afternoon game. Fans can catch all the action on ESPN+ on Saturday, October 18, at 3:30 PM. The Temple Owls enter the game with a 3-3 record, including a 1-1 record on the road. Their recent games have been a mix of successes and challenges, with a narrow 32-31 loss to Navy and a solid 27-21 win against UTSA. The Owls’ performance this season has shown that they can compete on both sides of the ball. The Charlotte 49ers have struggled this season, holding a 1-5 record with a 1-3 record at home. Despite their current standing, the 49ers have shown potential, with their sole victory coming against Monmouth in a high-scoring 42-35 game. As they face Temple, the 49ers will aim to leverage their home-field advantage to improve their season trajectory.
Charlotte vs Temple At a Glance
- Game Venue: Jerry Richardson Stadium in Charlotte, NC
- Broadcast Information: ESPN+ will air the game
- Game Odds: Temple favored with a spread of -11.5
- Temple Record: 3-3 overall, 1-1 on the road
- Charlotte Record: 1-5 overall, 1-3 at home
- Game Time: Scheduled for Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 3:30 PM
Charlotte 49ers: A Glimpse Into Their Upcoming Football Challenge
Current Form and Performance
The Charlotte 49ers have faced a tough run in recent games, with their latest encounter resulting in a 24-7 loss against the Army Black Knights. They have struggled defensively, conceding a significant number of points, reflected in their 115th rank for points against this season. The defense has shown moments of strength, especially in turnovers, ranking 3rd in interceptions and 5th in fumbles recovered.
Offensively, the 49ers rank 86th in points for, indicating challenges in converting their plays into scoring opportunities. Their passing game shows some potential, with 1292 passing yards ranking them 78th. However, the running game remains a concern, ranking 123rd with only 554 rushing yards.
Key Players and Injuries
Conner Harrell has been a bright spot at quarterback with 737 passing yards, but he is now out for the season due to a knee injury. In his absence, Grayson Loftis, who has 363 passing yards, will likely need to step up. Wide receiver E. Jai Mason has been a key offensive weapon with 310 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns.
The injury list is extensive for the 49ers, with key players like Justin Olson and Jayden McGowan also sidelined. These injuries significantly impact their offensive and defensive capabilities, presenting challenges in upcoming games.
Offensive and Defensive Strategy
Charlotte’s passing game has been more effective than their rushing game, suggesting a need to focus on strengthening their aerial attack. The team should aim to capitalize on the skills of their top receivers like E. Jai Mason. Defensive strategies must focus on enhancing their ability to stop the run, given their struggles against teams with strong rushing offenses.
Improving first downs, where they rank 47th, could help sustain drives and provide better scoring opportunities. With their current challenges in the rushing game, diversifying their offensive playbook could be crucial in overcoming their scoring difficulties.
Upcoming Game Outlook
As they prepare to host the Temple Owls, the 49ers will need to sharpen both their offensive and defensive strategies. Charlotte is currently an 11.5-point underdog, which highlights the uphill battle they face. They must focus on reducing turnovers and capitalizing on scoring opportunities to improve their odds.
With Temple’s strengths, particularly on defense, the 49ers must find ways to break through and increase their scoring output. This game could be an opportunity to leverage their strong passing game against Temple’s defensive setups.
Charlotte 49ers Betting Trends
- O/U – Away Games: 9-2 in last 11 games (81.8%)
- SU – As Favorite: 3-0 in last 3 games (100.0%)
- ATS – As Favorite: 3-0 in last 3 games (100.0%)
- O/U – Totals ≥ 50: 20-9 in last 29 games (69.0%)
- ATS – Away Games: 13-5 in last 18 games (72.2%)
Charlotte has shown strong performances in away games, particularly in over/under betting. This trend may provide an angle for bettors looking at their upcoming games. Despite their struggles this season, their ability to cover spreads as an underdog could be an area to watch.
Temple Owls Set to Prove Their Might Against Charlotte 49ers
Temple’s Offensive Overview
Temple Owls have accumulated 182 points this season, ranking 43rd in scoring. Their passing game has been a bit lackluster, sitting at 87th with 1,255 yards. However, their rushing game is more solid, ranked 53rd with 1,041 yards.
The Owls have managed to secure 120 first downs, placing them 39th overall. This shows a balanced offensive strategy that can adapt to both passing and rushing scenarios. Consistency in first downs can be a critical factor in maintaining possession and controlling the game’s pace.
Temple’s Defensive Stand
On the defensive side, Temple has allowed 157 points, ranking them 90th. Despite this, their defensive line has been effective with 12 sacks, placing them 14th in the nation. They are also impressive in interceptions, ranking 6th with five interceptions.
The defense has been effective at forcing turnovers, recovering two fumbles which ranks them 7th. These statistics suggest a defense capable of creating game-changing plays, which could be pivotal in tight situations against Charlotte.
Recent Game Performances
In their recent game against Navy, Temple narrowly lost 32-31. They demonstrated a strong passing attack with 345 yards but struggled to contain Navy’s rushing game, which accumulated 243 yards. This highlights a potential area of improvement in their rushing defense.
Earlier, the Owls secured a victory against UTSA with a score of 27-21. In that game, their defense managed to limit UTSA’s rushing to 70 yards, showcasing their potential to stifle the ground game when at their best.
Key Players to Watch
Quarterback Evan Simon is a standout performer, leading with 1,150 passing yards and 13 touchdowns. His ability to protect the ball is evident with zero interceptions so far this season. Running back Jay Ducker is another key player, with 446 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
Wide receiver JoJo Bermudez is a top target, amassing 285 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His connection with Simon will be vital in breaking down Charlotte’s defense. On the defensive front, look out for their sack leaders who could disrupt Charlotte’s offensive rhythm.
Injury Report
The Owls face a slew of injuries, with several players questionable, including Aaron Beckwith and Louis Frye. Key players like Johnny Martin and Preston Everhart are out for the season, which could impact their depth and rotational strategy.
These injuries could play a significant role in their upcoming game against Charlotte, affecting both their offensive and defensive units. The team will need to rely on depth players to step up and fill these gaps effectively.
Betting Trends
- SU – As Favorite: Last 11 Games (2020–2025) → 11-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – After Loss: Last 10 Games (2024–2025) → 9-1 (90.0%)
- O/U – Away Games: Last 5 Games (2024–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – As Favorite: Last 4 Games (2024–2025) → 4-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – All Games: Last 3 Games (2025) → 3-0 (100.0%)
Charlotte vs Temple Prediction: Charlotte +11.5
The Temple Owls enter this game with a balanced 3-3 record, showcasing a consistent performance both at home and on the road. Their defensive ranking of 90th in points against could be a concern as they contend with a Charlotte team that has shown competitiveness despite their 1-5 record.
Charlotte, though struggling with a 1-5 record, has covered the spread in 55.6% of their games following a loss, suggesting resilience in bouncing back. Additionally, their 11.5-point underdog status at home could provide an advantage, given their historical ability to perform against the spread in this scenario.
With Temple’s defense giving up 157 points (ranked 90th) and Charlotte’s offense aiming to exploit any vulnerabilities, this matchup presents an opportunity for the 49ers to cover the spread. Expect Charlotte to keep the game within reach, capitalizing on Temple’s potential defensive lapses.
Projecting a close game, Charlotte’s ability to cover the +11.5 spread looks promising as they play on their home turf, aiming for an upset against Temple. Look for a final score where Temple narrowly edges out Charlotte, but the 49ers cover the spread.
- Charlotte vs Temple Prediction: Charlotte +11.5
- Charlotte vs Temple Score: Temple 27 – Charlotte 20
