The Wiz of Odds

Temple

Temple is back in the Big East, a conference that forced out the Owls after the 2004 season for failing to meet minimum requirements for membership. The Owls played as an independent before joining the Mid-American Conference in 2007. Temple defeated Division I-AA Villanova, 41-10, last Saturday and plays host to Maryland on Saturday.

Thanks to Kelli.

Toledo Rockets Past Temple in Philly

Wiz correspondent Greg Laughlin spent Saturday at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field, site of the Mid-American Conference game between Toledo and Temple. The Rockets won, 36-13, before an announced crowd of 21,705.

There are more photos after the jump, and you can view Greg's full gallery by clicking here.

Temple

Temple beat Fiesta Bowl participant Connecticut by 14 points and won eight games in 2010, but when bowl bids were handed out, the Owls came up empty-handed. Then Al Golden left and became coach at Miami. The new man in Philly is Steve Addazio, who spent the past six seasons as an assistant at Florida.

Click the image for an enlarged view. Thanks to Cathy.

Temple

Temple was a college football graveyard when Al Golden was named coach in December 2005. The Owls had gone 1-11, 2-9 and 0-11 the previous three seasons under Bobby Wallace, and the school decided to take a shot on the young Virginia defensive coordinator. Golden's first team, stocked with young starters, went 1-11, but those young players became veterans and Golden's plan paid big dividends last season when the Owls won nine games and earned a berth to the EagleBank Bowl. There are 17 starters back in 2010, and Temple is favored to win the Mid-American Conference title. Thanks to Scott!

As a run up to the start of the season, the Wiz will display one poster each day until our supply is exhausted. Last year, the site displayed 69 posters.

Then we turn it over to readers, who will vote on the poster of the year. Until then, send your team's poster schedule to jayzuma (at) gmail.com.

Click the image for an enlarged view.

Temple

It wasn't the start Temple was looking for Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field. The Owls played host to Division I-AA Villanova in the inaugural Mayor's Cup game and lost, 27-24. This was a game Temple needed to win if it hoped to earn a bowl bid. Accomplishing that goal will be difficult considering that next on the schedule is a trip to Penn State, meaning a likely 0-2 start. Thanks to Kevin!

Cosby Being Cosby

In case you missed Bill Cosby's introduction for Tuesday night's Ohio-Temple game, here's a look. Thanks to the terrific Awful Announcing.