Scouting Temple

Current Record: 4-2 (2-1 Mid-American Conference)

2010 Record: 8-4 (5-3 MAC)

All-Time Series: Buffalo leads, 12-3

Last Meeting: Temple 42, Buffalo 0 (October 23, 2010 @ UB Stadium)

Two Owls to Watch:

RB Bernard Pierce:

Buffalo will be faced with the daunting task of stopping the nation's leader in rushing touchdowns on Saturday, as Pierce leads the way with 15. The junior tied a MAC record when he recorded five of those rushing touchdowns at Maryland on Sept. 24. Pierce's 692 rushing yards on the season are good for 7th in the nation, one spot in front of Buffalo's Branden Oliver.

LB Tahir Whitehead:

Whitehead, who has quickly become one of the more fearsome defensive players in the MAC, anchors a Temple defense that leads the conference in sacks. Fittingly, the senior was named to the Butkus Award watch list prior to the season's start. The Newark, N.J. native's four sacks in 2011 tie him for the conference lead, and his six solo tackles at Toledo on Oct. 1 were a career high. To put it simply, Whitehead means to the Temple defense what Khalil Mack means to Buffalo's.

The Bulls win if….they stop the run. Buffalo's run defense ranks ninth in the MAC, and the 239 rushing yards they surrendered last week against Ohio leaves a lot to be desired as the Bulls gear up to face one of the nation's elite backs in Pierce. If the Bulls' line can win the battle in the trenches and give the offense optimal ball position, they'll have a chance to pull this one out.

The Owls win if…Pierce plays like Pierce. It's a known fact that establishing the ground game opens up the passing game. That doesn't bode well for a Bulls' defensive unit that ranks ninth in the MAC in pass defense. If Pierce is able to put together a typical performance, expect this one to be a shootout in similar fashion to last week's Ohio game.

Prediction:

Scott Resnick – Asst. Sports Editor

The Bulls' defense hasn't shown enough to anticipate a strong showing against a high-powered offense such as Temple's. Even so, the offense appears to have gotten back on the same page after spending a few weeks in disarray. This one could very well turn into a high scoring affair, with two capable offenses taking the field at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Stadium.

Buffalo-27

Temple- 38

Aaron Mansfield – Senior Sports Editor

Buffalo looked great last week against a strong Ohio Bobcats team. Still, Temple is the class of the MAC East division. Bernard Pierce is really, really good. The Owls' running game should wear down a poor Buffalo defense. Expect the Bulls' offense to continue its recent strong play, but the Owls' offense and home-field advantage should result in Temple's fifth victory of 2011.

Buffalo- 24

Temple- 40

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