Temple will attempt to end its recent NCAA Tournament struggles this afternoon as it battles in-state rival Penn State at the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. The seventh seeded Owls and the Nittany Lions are scheduled to tip off at 2:10pm ET on TNT. The latest College Basketball Lines have Temple listed as a -2.5 against the spread college basketball picks favorite; the game total is set at 121.5.
Temple, which suffered an NCAA Tournament dry spell from 2002 to 2007, collected its fourth consecutive Big Dance 
invitation after posting a 25-7 record. The Owls are hoping that this year's tournament run does not end as early as their last three.
Temple has posted an 0-3 NCAA Tournament record since 2008, losing to Michigan State, Arizona State, and Cornell. The Owls would appear to be better equipped to avoid another opening fall this time around, despite its 3-5 record against fellow tourney teams.
Temple, which has five players that average double figures in scoring (led by Ramone Moore – 14.9 ppg), has held its opposition to an average of 62.2 points per game on the season. If it plays defense like that this afternoon, it should slide past the offensively challenged Nittany Lions.
Penn State is not likely to step out of the way for the Owls, though. Ed DeChellis' squad is playing its best basketball of the season, despite a 61-70 loss to top seeded Ohio State its last time out (Big Ten tournament championship).
The Nittany Lions reeled off four straight wins prior to their setback against the Buckeyes, beating Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan State. Penn State also has a game changer in senior guard Talor Battle, who is averaging 20.1 points and 4.5 rebounds per game coming into today's West Region dust up.
Still, confidence should be on Temple's side in this skirmish as the Owls have won six in a row and seven of their last nine against the Lions.
Penn State vs Temple 2011 NCAA Bracket Predictions:
Penn State Nittany Lions +2.5 (-110), Over 121.5 (-110), +125 (Moneyline)
Temple Owls -2.5 (-110), Under 121.5 (-110), -140 (Moneyline)
