Temple isn’t a shock to the oddsmakers

As one of college football’s worst programs, Temple put together a miserable 1-22 record over the 2005 and 2006 seasons. But over that span, the Owls were not dogs against the spread, sporting a respectable 10-12-1 record.

That’s why oddsmakers are not surprised to see Temple finally turn things around this season under second-year Coach Al Golden. The Owls (3-5) have won three games in a row and travel to face Ohio University (4-5) in a key Mid-American Conference game tonight.

With the Bobcats listed as 7 1/2 -point home favorites, Temple has attracted solid support this week in picking up 48% of the bets against the spread, according to Sportsbook.com’s betting trend.

The Owls are 6-2 against the spread this season and 6-1 against the spread in their last seven games as underdogs.

But before bettors get too excited about Temple, they should know that the Owls will be without starting quarterback Adam DiMichele, who suffered a season-ending injury two weeks ago in a 24-17 victory over Miami (Ohio).

Sophomore Vaughn Charlton, who completed nine of 13 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown after DiMichele was injured, will make his first start for Temple, which will be looking to win four games in a row for the first time since 1985.

Ohio University, the defending MAC East Division champion, is 5-1 against the spread in its last six home games and 9-1 against the spread in its last 10 games played on grass.

Auto racing

The Nextel Cup Series has three races remaining and Jeff Gordon holds a slim nine-point lead over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson heading into this weekend’s Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.

Gordon and Johnson are listed at 5-1 to win the Dickies race even though neither driver has won on the 1.5-mile Texas Speedway tri-oval. Tony Stewart is at 7-1

In the latest odds for this year’s racing title, Johnson is at even money with Gordon at 2-3, according to Sportsbook.com.

Pro hockey

The Toronto Maple Leafs have gotten off to a so-so start this season, putting together a 5-5-3 record over their first 13 games.

But the Maple Leafs have been a solid over/under play.

Thanks to a combination of a high-scoring offense (47 goals scored, No. 2 in the NHL) and porous defense (52 goals allowed, most in the league), the over is 10-3 in Toronto’s 13 games.

lonnie.white@latimes.com