South Florida Bulls vs. Temple Owls Picks and Prediction for Saturday, January 31, 2026

South Florida Bulls (14-7, 6-2 American) face the Temple Owls (13-8, 5-3 American) in an American Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 8:00 PM Eastern Time with coverage on ESPN2. South Florida enters off a road win against Tulane, while Temple looks to bounce back after an overtime loss at home to Charlotte. Both teams remain in the upper half of the conference standings. Court-side insights! Don’t miss our free NCAAB picks for South Florida Bulls vs Temple Owls Picks prediction today.

South Florida Bulls Push Tempo and Control the Glass

The South Florida Bulls enter this matchup with a 14-7 overall record and a 6-2 mark in American Athletic Conference play. South Florida has won four of the last five games, including a 97-83 road win at Tulane on Wednesday. In that game, the Bulls pushed pace early, scored 97 points, and continued a recent stretch of strong offensive production. Over the last five games, South Florida has averaged more than 90 per game while winning three straight contests before heading to Philadelphia.

South Florida has been driven by consistent scoring and rebounding. The Bulls average 90.1 points per game while allowing 79.0 points. Field goal percentage sits at 44 percent, and South Florida averages 43.6 rebounds per game, one of the stronger rebounding marks in the conference. Izaiyah Nelson leads the Bulls with 15.4 points per game and adds 10.1 rebounds while shooting 58.6 percent from the field. Nelson’s interior production shows up in both second-chance opportunities and rim protection, with the Bulls averaging 4.8 blocks per game. South Florida also generates 17.5 assists per game, showing a willingness to move the ball rather than rely on isolation possessions.

Defensive pressure has also contributed to recent results. South Florida averages 9.2 steals per game and forces opponents into faster possessions that often turn into scoring chances the other way. Over the last 10 games, the Bulls are 8-2 while averaging 91.3 points and allowing 76.0 points. That stretch includes wins against Tulane, Florida Atlantic, and UAB, all by double digits or near it, showing the Bulls can separate when offensive rhythm is established.

Injuries: South Florida does not have any players out injured

Temple Owls Rely on Half-Court Execution at Home

The Temple Owls come into Saturday with a 13-8 overall record and a 5-3 conference mark. Temple dropped an 80-76 overtime decision to Charlotte on Wednesday, a game where late execution again became an issue. That loss followed a road win at UTSA and another road win at Rice, but Temple has now lost three of the last five games overall. Home court has been productive this season, with Temple posting an 8-3 record in home games.

Temple averages 75.2 points per game while allowing 69.9 points. Field goal percentage sits at 45 percent, slightly higher than South Florida, but the Owls play at a slower scoring pace. Derrian Ford leads Temple with 18.0 points per game and scored 21 points in the overtime loss to Charlotte. Ford shoots 41.7 percent from the field and 84.8 percent at the free-throw line. Temple averages 12.8 assists per game and 34.0 rebounds, trailing South Florida in both categories.

Recent trends show Temple grinding out lower-scoring games. Over the last 10 games, the Owls are 7-3 while averaging 70.1 points and allowing 66.4 points. That includes wins at UTSA and Rice, where Temple held opponents under 65 points. Defensive activity shows up with 4.7 blocks and 5.8 steals per game. Rebounding remains an issue, especially against teams with size, as Temple gives up nearly ten rebounds per game compared to South Florida’s average.

Injuries: AJ Smith is out.

South Florida Bulls vs Temple Owls Picks Pick

Spread Pick for South Florida Bulls vs Temple Owls Picks

•  (South Florida Bulls 5 units)

South Florida has the clearer statistical edge entering this matchup. The Bulls score nearly 15 more points per game than Temple and rebound at a much higher rate. Recent form also favors South Florida, with the Bulls winning four of the last five games while averaging more than 90 points in that span. Temple’s recent losses have come in tight games where offensive output stalled late. If South Florida controls the glass and maintains the scoring pace shown over the last 10 games, the Bulls are positioned to secure a road win.

Over/Under Pick for South Florida Bulls vs Temple Owls Picks

•  (Over 5 units)

South Florida games consistently push higher totals, with the Bulls averaging 90.1 points per game and allowing 79.0. Eight of South Florida’s last 10 games have featured scoring totals above 150 combined points. Temple prefers a slower tempo, but recent matchups against higher-scoring opponents have pulled the Owls into faster games. If South Florida establishes an early tempo and forces Temple into extended possessions, the scoring environment leans toward the over based on recent production trends.