The 49ers Might Not Score 9 or even 4 Points

This one is simple for me: Charlotte might be the worst team in the country, and I'm pretty sure they have the worst defense in the country, too. Temple is laying 20 points, and I think the Owls are more than capable of covering this number.

Charlotte is 0-6, averaging just 16 points per game and fewer than 290 yards of offense per contest. Oh, and they've turned the ball over 15 times in six games. That's a recipe for disaster, and things aren't getting any easier against Temple.

The Owls sit at 2-4, but don't let that record fool you. They've had to face Penn State and suffered an overtime thriller of a loss to Toledo. While Temple has had its struggles, there is a clear difference between these teams, especially when you look at their defensive performances.

Temple has allowed 27 or more points in three of its losses, but when the Owls win, they can make life miserable for opposing offenses. They held Rhode Island to just 14 points, a good Army team to 21 and South Florida to only 13. That's the kind of defensive performance I expect against a Charlotte offense that has been completely stuck in neutral.

The 49ers haven't scored more than 10 points in three straight games or in four of their last five contests. They also haven't scored more than one touchdown in the first half since opening day. That is an offense I have absolutely no confidence in, especially against a Temple defense that has shown it can get stops.

Charlotte's defense has been even worse. The 49ers have surrendered 109 points over the past two weeks alone. They've already allowed 40 or more points in four games, with another opponent hanging 34 on them. That's an alarming trend, and now they have to face a Temple team that should have plenty of opportunities to put points on the board.

I fully expect the Owls to hold Charlotte to 14 points or fewer while scoring well into the 30s themselves. That puts Temple in a strong position to cover the 20-point spread.

I'm not overthinking this one. Charlotte can't score, can't stop anybody and keeps giving the ball away. Give me Temple to take care of business.

THE PICK: TEMPLE -20

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