Army is a 3-point road favorite over Temple in Friday afternoon American Conference action at Lincoln Financial Field. The spread has held all week, while the total has slipped from 49 to 48. Army arrives rested after a bye. Temple is on a short week after an overtime loss at Toledo and a change at quarterback. Below is our Army vs. Temple prediction, with a best bet against the spread, a total play, and a bonus angle.
Last Updated: Friday, September 25, 2026
Army vs. Temple — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia PA |
| When | Friday, September 25 – 4:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Army vs. Temple Betting Preview
Army is 1-1 overall and 0-1 in American Conference play. The season opened with a 59-3 rout of FCS Bryant, a game in which Army piled up 569 rushing yards. Army led South Florida 24-14 with 4:59 left, then allowed two late touchdowns. The winner came on a 38-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-6 with 19 seconds left. Army then had a bye in Week 3.
Quarterback Cale Hellums runs the triple option. Through two games, he has 142 rushing yards and two scores, plus 150 passing yards and two touchdown throws. Zach Mundell has 150 rushing yards on just seven carries, and Godspower Nwawuihe has 147 yards on 31 attempts. Army is averaging 394.0 rushing yards per game, although the Bryant blowout inflates that figure.
Temple is 1-2 and opens conference play on Friday. The home side beat Rhode Island 38-14, fell 27-9 to Penn State, and lost 49-48 in overtime at Toledo. Our Penn State vs. Temple prediction covered the second of those games. At Toledo, Temple blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead, and its two-point try in overtime fell incomplete.
Quarterback is the key question for Temple. Jaxon Smolik injured his foot on the opening possession at Toledo. Ajani Sheppard took over and threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns, adding 66 rushing yards and a score. Head coach K.C. Keeler has confirmed that Sheppard will make the start against Army. Running back Sam Brown V also ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns in his season debut.
History favors the visitor. Army leads the all-time series 8-7 and has won the last four meetings. Last November’s 14-13 win at West Point followed a familiar script. Army outrushed Temple 224-111 and held the ball for 37:38.
Army vs. Temple Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Army | -3 (-115) | -160 | O 48 (-115) |
| Temple | +3 (-105) | +135 | U 48 (-105) |
Odds accurate as of Friday, September 25, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest NCAAF Odds – Futures – Props
Army vs. Temple — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Army | 64% | 36% | Temple |
See the latest College Football Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Army vs. Temple Prediction — Does Bye Week Tilt the Number?
The schedule is the loudest factor here. Army has had two weeks to prepare. Temple played an overtime road game on Saturday and now gets a short week to prepare for the triple option. That same defense let a 14-point fourth-quarter lead slip at Toledo, and it has fewer practice days to regroup.
The market has leaned toward Army since the opener. The spread itself has not moved, but the price to back the road favorite has climbed. Meanwhile, about 64 percent of spread bets are on Army. That is steady support rather than the lopsided public position that often inflates a number.
The case for Temple is real, however. Sheppard adds a running threat, and Brown lifted the ground game at Toledo. Army also blew a 10-point lead against South Florida in the final five minutes. A narrow Army win could land right on the number, too. Still, a rested option offense against a defense on short rest is hard to ignore, and that edge tips this side.
The Pick: Army -3 (-115)
Army vs. Temple Prediction — Will Defense Dominate?
Both offenses prefer to run, and that tends to shrink the number of possessions. Army’s option is built to drain the clock. Last season’s meeting produced just 27 total points, and Army held the ball for more than 37 minutes. Temple also leans on its backfield, with Brown now back alongside Keveun Mason, who has 283 yards on 49 carries. The market has drifted in a similar direction, with the total dipping a point from its opener.
The case for points is real, though. Army is averaging 41.5 points per game, and Temple is allowing 30.0. Temple’s overtime loss at Toledo reached 97 total points. Still, 59 of Army’s 83 points came against an FCS opponent, and a conference game between two run-first teams points toward a slower script.
The Pick: Under 48 (-105)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The moneyline offers another way to back the same read. Army’s price implies a win probability of about 61.5 percent, while Temple’s home underdog price implies 42.6 percent. The Army number has shortened since the open, so some value is already gone. However, the moneyline removes the risk of a push if Army wins by exactly a field goal.
The counterargument is simple. Army lost its last game in the final minute, and Temple’s home underdog price is live if Sheppard builds on his Toledo performance. Even so, the rest advantage and series trend point the same way.
Bonus Pick: Army Moneyline (-160)
Picks recap:
- Against the spread: Army -3 (-115)
- Total: Under 48 (-105)
- Bonus: Army Moneyline (-160)
NCAAF Army vs. Temple FAQ: Friday September 25, 2026
What time does the Army vs. Temple game start?
The Army vs. Temple game kicks off at 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Temple is the home team for this American Conference matchup. Army comes in off a bye week, while Temple is playing on a short week after a Saturday game at Toledo.
What channel is the Army vs. Temple game on?
The Army vs. Temple game airs nationally on ESPN, with kickoff set for 4:00 p.m. ET on Friday, September 25. The broadcast comes from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. It is the conference opener for Temple and the second American Conference game of the season for Army.
Who won the last meeting between Army and Temple?
Army won the last meeting 14-13 on November 8, 2025, at Michie Stadium in West Point. Army ran for 224 yards to Temple’s 111 and controlled the ball for 37:38. Army leads the all-time series 8-7 and has won the last four meetings between the two programs.
Who is starting at quarterback for Army and Temple?
Cale Hellums starts at quarterback for Army, and Ajani Sheppard starts for Temple. Sheppard takes over after Jaxon Smolik injured his foot on the opening possession at Toledo. Hellums has 150 passing yards and 142 rushing yards through two games, with two touchdowns through the air and two on the ground.
What conference are Army and Temple in?
Army and Temple both play in the American Conference, so Friday’s game counts in the league standings. Army is 0-1 in conference play after a 28-24 loss to South Florida. Temple is 0-0 and opens its American Conference schedule here after going 1-2 in non-conference play.