Penn State vs Temple Picks and Prediction for Saturday September 12 2026

The No. 18 Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to face the Temple Owls on Saturday, September 12. Kickoff is scheduled for noon ET on ESPN2. Penn State opened the Matt Campbell era with an impressive 45-0 victory over Marshall, while Temple started its season with a 38-14 victory over Rhode Island. The current betting market has Penn State favored by 23.5 points with the total at 49.5. Before placing your wagers, check out our free college football picks for more predictions throughout the season.

Penn State Dominates Matt Campbell's Debut

Penn State made an immediate statement in Campbell's first game as head coach, shutting out Marshall 45-0. The Nittany Lions controlled the game in all three phases and demonstrated why they remain a significant threat despite undergoing major changes during the offseason.

Rocco Becht threw a career-high four touchdown passes before leaving during the third quarter. Koby Howard emerged as one of his primary targets, catching six passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Caleb Bacon recorded four tackles for loss as Penn State prevented Marshall from scoring.

The challenge for Penn State is avoiding a letdown after such an easy opener. Temple represents a stronger opponent and gets this game in Philadelphia, but the Nittany Lions have major advantages in depth and defensive talent.

Temple Brings Momentum Into Philadelphia Matchup

Temple also started its season successfully, beating Rhode Island 38-14. The Owls now face a massive increase in competition but at least enter the matchup with confidence after producing nearly 40 points in their opener.

Former Penn State quarterback Jaxon Smolik is part of the Temple offense, adding another storyline to this matchup. Keveun Mason was one of the Owls' biggest offensive weapons in Week 1, accumulating 192 yards from scrimmage and scoring twice.

Temple will need Mason and the running game to shorten the contest. Giving Becht and Penn State repeated possessions would make covering a spread of more than three touchdowns considerably more difficult.

Penn State vs Temple Picks and Prediction

Pick: Penn State -23.5

Temple's Week 1 performance deserves respect, but Penn State -23.5 is the preferred side. The Nittany Lions just won by 45 points while Becht threw four touchdown passes and their defense pitched a shutout. Temple should offer more resistance than Marshall, but Penn State's advantages along the line of scrimmage and on defense should eventually become decisive. The number is large, but still below four touchdowns. Take Penn State -23.5.

Pick: Under 49.5

The Under 49.5 is the second play. Penn State's defense completely shut down Marshall, and Temple now makes an enormous jump from Rhode Island to one of the nation's better defensive rosters. Temple's best strategy should be leaning on Mason and trying to shorten the game rather than engaging Penn State in a high-possession contest. Something around 34-10 or 38-7 produces a comfortable Penn State victory while remaining below the total. Take Under 49.5.

Final Picks: Penn State -23.5 and Under 49.5