FACTS & STATS: Site: Lincoln Financial Field (68, 532) -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Television: Local. Home Record: KSU 1-3, Temple 2-3. Away Record: KSU 2-4, Temple 1-4. Neutral Record: KSU 0-0, Temple 0-0. Conference Record: KSU 1-5, Temple 3-2. Series Record: Kent State leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: In a Mid-American Conference matchup this Saturday afternoon, the Temple Owls will collide with the Kent State Golden Flashes at Lincoln Financial Field. The Golden Flashes enter this contest in the midst of a terrible slide, as the team has dropped five consecutive games, including a tough, 27-20 setback to Northern Illinois this past weekend. KSU has been dreadful in league action this season, posting a horrendous 1-5 mark. As for the Owls, they have dropped back-to-back contests, with the most recent loss coming this past weekend against Penn State by a score of 31-0. Although Temple is just 3-7 on the season, two of those victories have come at home. The Owls will close out their season next weekend when the team travels to Kalamazoo to battle the Western Michigan Broncos. Last season the Golden Flashes defeated Temple 28-17 in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

The Golden Flashes have been a one-trick pony offensively, as the team is using its ground game as its main source of production. On the year KSU is producing an impressive 213.8 ypg, but as a whole the unit is netting a mediocre 387.5 total ypg, and that has led to just 22.2 ppg. In the loss to Northern Illinois this past weekend the Golden Flashes continued to have success on the ground, rumbling for 204 yards on 39 carries, but still the team was not victorious, falling to the Huskies by seven points. Eugene Jarvis led the way in the setback with 170 yards on 20 attempts, but the RB did not find the end zone for KSU. On the year Jarvis has been the main option out of the backfield for the Flashes, as the tailback has rushed for 1,429 yards and nine touchdowns. Unfortunately the passing attack has struggled tremendously and with Julian Edelman gone for the season with a knee injury, the Flashes will only take steps backwards. In the loss to NIU, the QB duties went to Giorgio Morgan, but he only completed 5-of-8 passes for 27 yards before leaving with an injury. Jon Brown relieved Morgan and proceeded to throw for 132 yards and one score. The QB also tossed one interception and was sacked twice.

What has been the main source of production for the offense, has been the main problem for the defensive unit for Kent State, as opponents are averaging 165.4 ypg with the run. Overall the defense for KSU is surrendering a mediocre 386.8 total ypg, and that has led to 29.6 ppg. The team's issues against the run continued this past weekend, as the squad was gashed for 235 yards on 4.4 ypc. Sadly, the defense also struggled against the pass, allowing the Huskies to rack up 275 yards through the air. KSU was able to force three turnovers in the contest, but was held without a sack. Both areas have been major problems for the Flashes, as the team has forced just 15 takeaways, while recording only 17 sacks. The team has also been atrocious inside its own red zone, as opponents have scored 27 touchdowns in 40 attempts inside the Flashes' 20-yard line.

The Owls have not been overwhelming offensively throughout the season and head into this matchup averaging just 17.0 ppg behind only 308.9 total ypg. The team has definitely struggled on the ground, rushing for only 88.1 ypg on just 2.6 ypc. Jason Harper is currently pacing the team with 467 yards and four scores, but the tailback is posting just 3.5 ypg. In the recent loss to Penn State, the Owls struggled against offensively, collecting just 242 total yards. The team was held to just four rushing yards, so obviously the majority of the success came via the pass. Vaughn Charlton, who was making his second career start in place of the injured Adam DiMichele, completed 26-of-43 pass attempts for just 238 yards. The QB did not throw a touchdown or interception, but was sacked four times. Bruce Francis had another solid outing for Temple, as the wideout grabbed six passes for 75 yards. Francis has been the team's main downfield threat this year, as the senior is leading the team with 47 receptions for 731 yards and six TDs.

Surprisingly the Owls have made some positive strides defensively this season, and head into this contest surrendering 28.5 ppg on 380.0 total ypg. The one area where Temple could use some help is against the run, as the team is being gashed for 176.7 ypg on the ground. In the recent setback to Penn State, the Owls were demoralized, allowing 462 total yards, which included 202 yards on 41 carries. The team did force two turnovers in the contest, pushing its total number of takeaways to 23 on the season. Dominique Harris led the team with 13 tackles in the loss to Penn State and now has a team-best 73 stops on the season.

Both teams have lost their starting quarterback for the season, so expect plenty of mistakes. Temple has struggled against the run this season, but look for the Owls to overcome their defensive shortcomings, en route to a strong win at home.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Temple 28, Kent State 20

Saturday, November 17th, 12:00 p.m. (et)