Matt Fargo

This is a play on the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS for our Thursday Primetime Play. San Francisco is one of two teams in the NFL that have not scored a touchdown through the first two weeks of the season while the Rams are averaging 33 ppg which is tied for third in the NFL. Because of this, it comes as no surprise the Rams are favored on the road and the public is eating it up. Los Angeles is the better team here but if the better team always won, there would be no point in playing the games. Even saying that the Rams are the better team may not be true because we have yet to see the real 49ers team and what they are capable of in a matchup like this. While they have yet to score a touchdown, they have played the Seahawks and Panthers, two of the strongest teams and defenses in the NFC and the schedule is ranked No. 8. And they were not dominant in those games as they have been outgained by just 70 and 64 total yards. Los Angeles meanwhile has played the No. 29 ranked schedule as it has faced the Colts, clearly one of the worst teams in the NFL without Andrew Luck, and the Redskins, who have their problems as well. They are now favored for a third straight game and in their first road game of the season no less. While the 49ers lack of offense has been the story, the defense has quietly played very well, allowing just 299.5 ypg and 17.5 ppg, both ranked in the top ten. This unit was expected to be much better this season and so far, it has made improvements and the jury is still out on the Rams offense. The 49ers hit the road for three straight games after this so they know this is a big game to not let the season get away from them early and we will see that effort tonight. 10* (302) San Francisco 49ers

This is a play on the SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS for our Thursday Star Attraction. We won with South Florida this past Friday as it put together its best game of the young season, amassing 680 yards of total offense while picking up 38 first downs on 98 plays from scrimmage. The Bulls won their first two games over San Jose St. and Stony Brook but it was not their best efforts although it can be argued they did not want to give too much away. They are laying a couple more points than they did against the Illini but that should not come into play here as there will be plenty of motivation to not only win but to win big. Temple is a shell of the team that rolled to consecutive 10-4 records the last two seasons as the Owls not only lost 12 starters including seven on one of the best defenses in the country but they also lost head coach Matt Rhule who left for the Baylor job. While he is not doing well at his new gig, he was responsible for putting the Temple program back on the map. The Owls have been outgained in all three games including losing the yardage battle by 49 yards against Villanova of the FCS and by 71 yards against winless UMass last week. Those games were won because of special teams and kicking but it is going to take more than that against the Bulls. Temple was outrushed by 337 yards in its season opener against Notre Dame and that is bad news against a South Florida team that is outrushing opponents by an average of close to 200 ypg. The Bulls motivation not only comes from this being the season opener and biggest game in the AAC East Division but also because of looking to avenge the 16-point loss at Temple last season which kept them out of the AAC Championship. 10* (304) South Florida Bulls