Penn State Nittany Lions defeat Temple Owls 27-9: Recap, Betting Results & AiQ Picks

Sat, Sep 12, 2026 · NCAAF · Penn State Nittany Lions 27, Temple Owls 9

Penn State defeated Temple 27–9 at Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, September 12. Temple covered the +23.5 spread despite the loss, while the game finished under the 50.5 total at 36 combined points.

Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls final score and game recap

Penn State and Temple opened scoreless through the first quarter. The Nittany Lions broke through in the second, scoring 10 points while holding Temple to a field goal for a 10–3 halftime lead. Penn State extended that advantage in the third quarter with another 10 points, reaching 20–3 as Temple remained off the board. Both teams scored in the fourth—Penn State added 7, Temple 6—closing at 27–9. The decisive stretch came in quarters two and three, when Penn State outscored Temple 20–3 while the Owls managed only a single field goal across both periods.

Who covered the spread in Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls?

Temple covered at +23.5. Penn State won by 18 points, falling short of the 23.5-point spread. The line opened at Temple +24 and tightened to +23.5 by kickoff, with late money flowing toward the underdog.

AiQ's spread pick—Penn State Nittany Lions -24.5 at 59% confidence—lost. The model's line was half a point steeper than the closing number, a disadvantage that proved costly when the margin fell short.

Did Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls go over or under the total?

The game went under 50.5, finishing at 36 points—14.5 points below the total. The total opened at 49.5 and rose to 50.5 before kickoff.

AiQ's over pick at 50.5 with 57% confidence lost.

How did AiQ's Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls predictions do?

AiQ finished 2–3 on this game.

The model nailed the moneyline but missed both the spread and total. AiQ's calibrated estimate for Penn State's win probability was 94%, matching the market's implied probability after vig removal, yet the actual margin and low-scoring nature diverged from the model's expectations.

Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls player prop results

AiQ went 1–1 on player props, netting +$42.

Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Temple Owls odds: sportsbook value and line movement

The moneyline was Penn State -3267 and Temple +1417, implying a 94% win probability for the Lions after vig removal. The bookmaker's margin sat at 3.6%. A $100 wager on Penn State returned $3.06 in profit.

AiQ's expected value on the moneyline was -2.6% at -2500 (best price at BetMGM), indicating the market price was unfavorable despite alignment with the model's 94% confidence estimate. The spread shifted half a point toward Temple, the side that ultimately covered.

Penn State is 2–0 overall with a 1–1 record against the spread in two games with recorded spreads. The Nittany Lions are 0–2 on the over/under, both unders. They have won two straight games.

Temple sits 1–1 overall and 2–0 against the spread in two games with recorded spreads. The Owls are 1–1 on the over/under.

What's next for Penn State Nittany Lions and Temple Owls?

Penn State hosts Buffalo on Saturday, September 19. Temple travels to Toledo on the same day.