North Carolina vs. Temple Military Bowl Preview

The North Carolina Tar Heels play in their 34th bowl game against the Temple Owls Friday, Dec. 27, at noon in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md. 

Temple (8-4, 5-3 AAC) is a balanced offensively and an aggressive, hard-hitting defensive team with the best front-seven Carolina has seen since their game against Clemson in September. 

Three deciding factors in the first matchup between the Tar Heels and Owls on the gridiron are; if UNC’s offensive line can hold up against Temple’s front-seven, which offense can find success on the outside in the passing game and field position. 

Temple’s Front-Seven 

Wearing a single-digit number is considered an honor for Temple players, and those who earn them are deemed the toughest on the team. The Owls’ front-seven has five players who wear single-digit numbers. 

Owls junior defensive end Quincy Roche, No. 9, won the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. He finished the regular season with 44 tackles, 18 for loss; 13 sacks; a forced fumble; two fumble recoveries; and five pass breakups. He’s one sack away from breaking the Temple single-season sack record and he holds the AAC career-sack record with 26 sacks. 

Temple sophomore defensive tackle Ifeanyi Maijeh and senior middle linebacker Shaun Bradley earned first-team  All-AAC honors, and senior linebacker Sam Franklin earned second-team All-AAC honors. 

“They’re very, very physical in their front-seven on both sides of the ball,” Carolina head coach Mack Brown said. “… They stop the run and get after the passer.”

Perimeter Passing 

Both teams will go after their opponents’ secondary. Only one of Temple’s starting defensive backs is taller than six feet – 6-foot-one-inch senior safety Benny Walls.  

It’s no secret that UNC freshman quarterback and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year Sam Howell loves taking deep shots with his wide receivers. If Carolina’s offensive line gives Howell enough time, he should have no problem finding his receivers in space.

Also expect short passes in the flat to UNC’s running backs to test the open-field tackling of Temple’s secondary and take advantage of their aggressive front-seven. 

Owls junior quarterback Anthony Russo is a poised and accurate quarterback. Owls sophomore wide receiver and second-team All-AAC member Jaden Blue is Russo’s go-to target. He holds the single-season Temple records for most receptions, 87, and receiving yards, 975. He’s only 25 reception yards away from becoming the first Owl to have 1,000 receiving yards in a season. 

Temple’s offensive runs a lot of run-pass-option plays, especially out of the trips formation, and Russo likes connecting with his wide receivers on routes toward the sideline. 

Field Positioning 

Temple’s defense is ranked fourth in the FBS in red- zone defense, but their offense is ranked no. 114 in red-zone efficiency. Owls sophomore punter Adam Barry is awful. He averages 38 yards per punt and is ranked third to last in the FBS in punting.  

Carolina punter return and second-team All-ACC wide receiver Dazz Newsome will have the opportunity to make plays and flip the field if the defensive can come up with stops. North Carolina’s offense must capitalize on field position and score touchdowns instead of field goals – or not scoring at all – when they’re on Temple’s side of the 50-yard line.

Prediction 

UNC 34, Temple 27 

Carolina’s offensive line has matured over the course of the season, and Temple’s secondary will be over-powered by UNC’s passing attack. 

Game Information 

Kickoff: Friday, Dec. 27, at noon EST at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (tickets) 

Watch: ESPN 

Listen: Tar Heel Sports Network (online, radio) 

 

Images courtesy of Landon Bost