Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls prediction: Richmond's returning shooters test Temple's rebuilt roster at the Palestra
The Spiders bring back most of last season's minutes, while Temple's 10 newcomers are still sorting out a lineup, and that gap in continuity may matter more than either team's ratings.
| Spread | Richmond -1 |
|---|---|
| Total (over/under) | 151.25 |
- Expect a slow, tidy game. Temple's pace ranked 298th last season, and both teams ranked among the nation's best at protecting the ball.
- Richmond's guards, AJ Lopez and Aiden Argabright, against a Temple defense that kept opponents off the 3-point line.
- No line is posted yet. Last season's final adjusted net ratings had Richmond 144th and Temple 165th, a narrow gap.
Continuity against a rebuild
Richmond returns 72.2% of last season's minutes, a rare figure in the transfer-portal era. The core is the backcourt that carried a 15-17 team. AJ Lopez started every game and scored 13.4 points a night. Aiden Argabright, now a sophomore and a preseason All-Atlantic 10 third-team pick, posted an offensive rating (points produced per 100 possessions) of 128.9, mostly off the bench. Starting center Mike Walz is back too.
Temple is starting over. Adam Fisher's roster has 10 newcomers, and only five players return. Last season's leading scorer, Aiden Tobiason, left for Syracuse. Guards Gavin Griffiths and Derrian Ford return as starters and made the preseason all-conference second team, but Fisher is using the preseason to set his lineup. That makes Temple's 16-16 season, and the 2025-26 numbers below, a loose guide to this team. Richmond's numbers carry more weight because most of the people who produced them are still there.
Where the threes come from
Richmond's offense runs through the perimeter. Last season the Spiders made 36.4% of their threes, 44th nationally, and Walz stretches the floor from the center spot. Temple's defense was built to take that away. Its opponents took one of the smallest shares of their shots from deep, 284th of 365 in attempt rate. If the Owls' new pieces keep that shape, Richmond will have to win inside the arc. That is where the Spiders were weakest on offense.
The other end runs the opposite way. Richmond's defense let opponents fire away, ranking 24th-most in opponent 3-point attempt share at 45.8% of shots. Inside, it was worse: opponents made 54.2% of their twos, 306th nationally. Temple's guards can attack a defense that offered little resistance at the rim.
Few free possessions
Neither team gave the ball away last season. Temple ranked 13th in turnover rate (turnovers per 100 possessions). Richmond ranked 27th. Temple did little to force turnovers in return, and Richmond was only modestly above average there, so steals and live-ball runs should be scarce.
Tempo leans slow. Temple's pace ranked 298th, and Richmond's 151st put the Spiders near the middle. Richmond also chased almost none of its own misses, with an offensive rebound rate (share of its missed shots it rebounded) ranked 346th. A game with few turnovers and few second chances comes down to shot-making.
Temple's way to the line
Temple's clearest edge last season came at the free-throw line. The Owls ranked 47th in free throw rate (free-throw attempts per field-goal attempt) at 40.8%. Richmond's defense was below average at keeping opponents off the line, ranking 224th in opponent free throw rate. Whether Temple's newcomers draw contact the way last season's group did is the open question. A slow game with few turnovers puts extra weight on those free points.
A century-old room
The game is part of the Palestra's 100th anniversary season and will be the 22nd meeting between the programs. Temple leads the all-time series 11-10. The last meeting came in 2022-23, when Richmond won 69-41 at Barclays Center. Richmond's schedule lists a 5 p.m. tip; Temple's lists the time as TBA.
The availability picture is thin. Indiana transfer Jason "Deuce" Drake missed all of 2025-26 with an injury, and no update on his status had surfaced as of Oct. 20. A November 2025 report had guard CJ Hines under NCAA review for possible eligibility concerns, and no later update has appeared. Richmond has no current injury news.
Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls line movement and odds
| Book | Spiders ML | Owls ML | Spiders spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | -125 | +105 | -1.5 (-110) | o152.5 (-105) |
| BetRivers | -134 | +105 | -1.5 (-113) | o152.5 (-108) |
| DraftKings | -120 | +100 | -1.5 (+100) | o151.5 (-108) |
| ESPN BET | — | — | -1.5 (-110) | o151.5 (-110) |
| Fanatics | -125 | +105 | -1.5 (-110) | o152 (-110) |
| FanDuel | -134 | +112 | -2.5 (-105) | o152.5 (-110) |
| Caesars | — | — | -2 (-110) | o151.5 (-110) |
Where the money is on Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls
On the Kalshi moneyline: Richmond Spiders: 67% of bets, 32% of the money; Temple Owls: 33% of bets, 68% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 151.5: 75% of bets, 48% of the money; Under 151.5: 25% of bets, 52% of the money.
Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls stats (this season)
| Stat | Richmond Spiders | Temple Owls |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 2-0 | 1-0 |
| Adjusted offensive efficiency | 111.8 (119th of 365) | 111.7 (123rd of 365) |
| Adjusted defensive efficiency | 109.6 (183rd of 365) | 111.4 (224th of 365) |
| Adjusted net efficiency | 2.1 (144th of 365) | 0.3 (165th of 365) |
| Pace | 74.3 (99th of 364) | 67.0 (304th of 364) |
| Effective FG% | 69.5% (4th of 363) | 52.5% (182nd of 363) |
| Opponent effective FG% | 45.7% (144th of 363) | 41.7% (90th of 363) |
| Turnover rate | 15.4% (120th of 363) | 14.9% (102nd of 363) |
| Offensive rebound % | 37.7% (118th of 363) | 24.2% (313th of 363) |
| 3-point % | 52.1% (4th of 363) | 26.7% (287th of 363) |
| Free throw rate | 24.8% (317th of 363) | 16.9% (352nd of 363) |
Key players
- AJ Lopez (Richmond): Averaged 13.4 points last season while shooting 39.4% from three.
- Aiden Argabright (Richmond): Posted a 128.9 offensive rating last season on 10.8 points per game and earned preseason All-A-10 third-team honors.
- Mike Walz (Richmond): Pulled down 6.4 rebounds a game last season and hit 38% of his threes.
- Gavin Griffiths (Temple): One of Temple's five returners and a preseason all-conference second-team pick.
- Derrian Ford (Temple): A returning starter named to the preseason all-conference second team alongside Griffiths, on a roster with 10 newcomers.
Numbers that matter
| Richmond returning minutes | 72.2% | Most of last season's rotation is back, so Richmond's 2025-26 numbers are a fair guide. |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond 3-point %, last season | 36.4% | Ranked 44th nationally, against a Temple defense that limited 3-point attempts. |
| Richmond opponent 2-point %, last season | 54.2% | Ranked 306th, an opening for Temple's guards to attack the rim. |
| Temple free throw rate, last season | 40.8% | Ranked 47th, against a Richmond defense that ranked 224th in fouling. |
| Temple turnover rate, last season | 13.8% | Ranked 13th; with Richmond also strong here, free possessions should be rare. |
Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls: quick answers
Who is favored in Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls?
Richmond is favored by 1 points (Richmond -1).
What is the over/under for Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls?
The total is 151.25 points.
When is Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls?
Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET.
Where is Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls played?
The Palestra, Philadelphia, PA.
Has the line moved for Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls?
No: Richmond Spiders has stayed at -1.5, and the total is still 151.5 (consensus of the regulated US sportsbooks since we first saw the game).
Where is the money on Richmond Spiders vs Temple Owls?
On the Kalshi moneyline: Richmond Spiders: 67% of bets, 32% of the money; Temple Owls: 33% of bets, 68% of the money. On the Kalshi total: Over 151.5: 75% of bets, 48% of the money; Under 151.5: 25% of bets, 52% of the money.