Rhode Island vs Temple Picks and Prediction for Saturday, September 5, 2026

The Rhode Island Rams visit the Temple Owls at Lincoln Financial Field, with the opening kickoff at 2:00 PM ET, televised on ESPN+. Rhode Island is 1-0 after opening the season with a 34-7 road win over Merrimack and has won four of its last five games dating to 2025. Temple opens 2026 after finishing 5-7 last season, its best record since 2019, but the Owls lost their final four games. Temple opened as a 10-point favorite and has moved to -10.5 at -108, while Rhode Island is +10.5 at -112. The total remains 51.5, with Temple -550 and Rhode Island +410 on the moneyline. Saturday’s matchup presents an interesting FCS-FBS test in our free NCAAF picks.

Rhode Island Rams Start 2026 With Convincing Victory

Rhode Island opened its season by beating Merrimack 34-7 despite being outgained 355-297. The Rams forced four turnovers, including two interceptions, and scored 27 unanswered points after Merrimack tied the game in the first quarter. Quarterback Tyler Budge completed 13 of 29 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown. Marquis Buchanan was his top target, catching six passes for 72 yards and a score, while Rhode Island converted 5-of-13 third downs.

The Rams found several ways to produce on the ground. BJ Barrow rushed for 56 yards on 13 attempts, Budge added 51 yards on five carries and Alex McClelland scored twice. Rhode Island’s defense made the biggest difference. Andre DePina-Gray and Moses Meus each recorded an interception, with Meus returning his pick 49 yards for a touchdown. The Rams allowed only seven points despite Merrimack possessing the ball for more than 36 minutes, providing an encouraging defensive result before the trip to Philadelphia.

Temple Owls Seek Better Results in KC Keeler’s Second Year

Temple finished 5-7 in KC Keeler’s first season after six consecutive losing campaigns. The Owls struggled late, losing four straight games against East Carolina, Army, Tulane and North Texas. Temple allowed at least 37 points in three of those defeats, including 52 against North Texas in the finale. The Owls were much better when their offense reached 26 points, posting a 5-1 record in those games compared with 0-6 when scoring fewer.

Temple must replace quarterback Evan Simon after he threw 25 touchdowns against only two interceptions last season. Jaxon Smolik and Ajani Sheppard competed for the position, while Colin Chase and JoJo Bermudez return at receiver. Tight end Peter Clarke caught 30 passes for 483 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. Defensively, Temple allowed 27 rushing touchdowns and recorded only 16 sacks. The Owls were 5-1 when holding opponents below 200 rushing yards but went 0-6 when allowing more than that mark.

Key to the Game: Rhode Island’s Rushing Attack Against Temple’s Run Defense

Rhode Island’s best path to staying close could come through its rushing attack. Budge, Barrow and McClelland combined for 117 yards against Merrimack, while Temple’s 2025 results changed sharply depending on its ability to stop the run. The Owls went 0-6 when allowing more than 200 rushing yards and surrendered 27 rushing touchdowns. Budge’s mobility adds another problem because Temple must account for the quarterback outside the pocket. If Rhode Island produces steady rushing gains, the Rams can shorten third downs and reduce the number of possessions Temple gets at home.

Rhode Island vs Temple Game Pick

• Rhode Island +10.5 (-112)

Rhode Island showed enough defensively in its opener to make 10.5 points attractive against a Temple team that finished 5-7 last season. The Rams forced four turnovers against Merrimack and allowed only seven points, while Temple ended 2025 with four consecutive losses. Rhode Island also has a mobile quarterback in Tyler Budge and several rushing options. Temple owns the deeper FBS roster, but its defense struggled down the stretch last year. With more than a touchdown available, the pick is Rhode Island +10.5 on Saturday in Philadelphia.

Rhode Island vs Temple Over/Under Pick

• Under 51.5 (-115)

Rhode Island’s opening victory was driven largely by defense and turnovers rather than heavy offensive production. The Rams finished with 297 total yards, while Tyler Budge completed only 13 of 29 passes for 128 yards. Temple also has a new quarterback after Evan Simon departed, creating another reason to expect a measured offensive start. The Owls scored fewer than 26 points in six games last season and lost all six. With Rhode Island capable of limiting possessions, the play is under 51.5 on Saturday in Philadelphia.