New Mexico Bowl Predictions: Temple Owls vs. Wyoming Cowboys

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The Temple Owls (8-4) got skipped over for a bowl bid last year with the same exact record, but they will face the Wyoming Cowboys (8-4) Saturday afternoon in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl inside University Stadium in Albuquerque.

Oddsmakers opened the Owls as 7.5-point neutral-field favorites, but that number has dropped down to 6.5 at most sports books on the Las Vegas Strip, while the total has moved up 2.5 points to 49.

Let's take a closer look at this MAC vs. Mountain West Conference matchup from a betting perspective.

Bernard Pierce, Temple Owls RB

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Temple Owls running back Bernard Pierce is the star of the show entering Saturday's contest, coming in as the nation's 13th best rusher, with 1,381 yards on the ground. 

He should find plenty of holes facing a defense that was the sixth worst against the rush, allowing 230.1 yards a contest.

Temple is definitely more than Pierce in the ground game, rushing for 256.7 yards per game as a team, which ranks seventh nationally.

Wyoming Cowboys Turnaround

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Fans in Laramie weren't exactly thrilled with Wyoming Cowboys head coach Dave Christensen after last year's 3-9 season, but the recently named Mountain West coach of the year has turned things around.

The program's five games of improvement ranks third nationally, sitting just behind the Houston Cougars and Arkansas State Red Wolves.

He should have little trouble getting his team up for this game.

Steve Addazio

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The Temple Owls enjoyed a successful regular season under first-year head coach Steve Addazio, while the senior class won the most games (30) in school history.

Motivating the locker room shouldn't be a problem after being skipped over during the bowl season a year ago.

Addazio would also like to carry over this season's momentum into the 2012 campaign with a victory Saturday.

Wyoming's Ability to Create Turnovers

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The Wyoming Cowboys finished fourth in turnover margin (+1.25) during the regular season, sitting behind the likes of the LSU Tigers, Oklahoma State Cowboys and Toledo Rockets.

Creating miscues is a huge part of the bowl season due to the amount of time between games, as the Cowboys have either won the turnover margin or come away tied in all but one game.

A key factor in this contest.

Chris Coyer, Temple Owls QB

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The Temple Owls have started three different players under center, but they anticipate having sophomore Chris Coyer under center. 

Many around the program consider him the best fit in head coach Steve Addazio's system, which could open up the playbook if he seems fully recovered from an injury to his throwing shoulder.

Watch the injury reports closely.

Prediction

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The Temple Owls also finished with a positive turnover margin (+.50) during the regular season, which will prove to be the difference against an aggressive defense.

Bernard Pierce should get his number called a lot Saturday, which should move the program to 20-2 when he gets the ball at least 18 times per game.

Prediction: Temple Owls (-6.5)