Jaxon Smolik is cleared to return as the Owls host a winless Charlotte team at Lincoln Financial Field
PHILADELPHIA — Temple has two healthy quarterbacks again. Charlotte is still looking for its first win.
The Owls (2-4, 1-1 American) host the 49ers (0-6, 0-2) at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+ at Lincoln Financial Field. Temple has dropped several close ones, including a 49-48 overtime loss at Toledo and a 21-17 loss to Army, before falling 34-20 to UConn last week.
The big news is at quarterback. Jaxon Smolik has been cleared to play after a foot injury, and Temple has said it may use both him and Ajani Sheppard, who started the past three games. Sheppard has completed 59 of 97 passes for 891 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception on ESPN's stat sheet. Keveun Mason leads the run game with 449 yards, and Curly Ordonez anchors the defense with 55 tackles.
Charlotte has had a hard season. The 49ers have lost three straight by 27 or more points, most recently 50-10 at North Texas. Quarterback Cole Gonzales has thrown three touchdowns and seven interceptions, and Jaden Barnes is the steady target with 35 catches. Gavin Willis has 46 tackles.
The numbers lean heavily toward Temple. ESPN's Football Power Index ranks Charlotte's offense 136th in efficiency and its defense 131st. Temple's offense ranks 62nd.
Wind is the wild card. ESPN's forecast calls for gusts near 40 mph, which could keep both teams on the ground. That tilts things toward Temple, which runs the ball better.
Temple has won all three meetings in this series.
The Owls' history includes Pop Warner, who coached in North Philadelphia in the 1930s, and Wayne Hardin's run in the 1970s. Temple won the American title in 2016. Charlotte, which played its first season in 2013 under Brad Lambert, is now led by Tim Albin. K.C. Keeler is in his second season at Temple.
Both teams get extra time after this. Charlotte hosts Tulane on Oct. 30, and Temple visits East Carolina on Oct. 31.
Our score assumes Smolik plays, since he has been cleared and Temple may use both quarterbacks. With Smolik, we see Temple 33, Charlotte 12. If Sheppard goes the distance, it looks more like Temple 32, Charlotte 13.
Our call: Temple 33, Charlotte 12.