Connecticut @ Temple preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 6, 2008 ) Connecticut 12, Temple 9

Two games into the season and Connecticut still isn't sure what kind of football team it can be.

Saturday's matchup against Temple at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia should provide a good barometer.

The Huskies (1-1) looked lethargic and uninspired in a 30-10 season-opening loss at Michigan before 113,000-plus fans - the biggest crowd to watch a college football game in the modern era.

And last week, UConn thoroughly outclassed FCS opponent Texas Southern 62-3 behind 151 yards rushing and three touchdowns from Jordan Todman.

So which team will show up this weekend? Regardless, the Huskies will be facing an amped-up Temple squad that is off to a 2-0 start and still carries painful memories of a pair of narrow defeats to UConn.

The Owls eked out a 13-10 overtime win over Mid-American Conference rival Central Michigan on Sept. 9, getting a game-winning 30-yard field goal from Brandon McManus.

Temple was held to just 265 yards of total offense but still managed to start 2-0 for the first time since 1981.

In their season opener, the Owls got a 43-yard field goal from Brandon McManus with 3 seconds to play to topple defending FCS champion Villanova, 31-24.

It was the fourth field goal of the game for McManus - all over 40 yards - and gave Temple a 25-24 lead. The Owls returned a fumble on the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to account for the final margin.

Aside from McManus, Temple has been unable to generate a ton of offense. Star running back Bernard Pierce, who is being touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate by the school, has managed just 135 yards in two games after piling up 1,361 yards and 16 touchdowns as a freshman.

Pierce left the game against Central Michigan in the third quarter due to a hand injury and did not return. He was back at practice Tuesday and Owls coach Al Golden said he looks "favorable" to play Saturday.

Temple endured a pair of stinging losses to UConn in the past three years. In 2007, they appeared to score the go-ahead touchdown with under a minute to play, but the pass was ruled incomplete and was not reversed upon video replay.

One year later, UConn got a 7-yard touchdown run in overtime from Donald Brown to escape Philadelphia with a 12-9 victory. Brown rambled for 214 yards in that contest.

Expect the Huskies to stick with that script and feature a heavy dose of Todman, who ranks No. 12 nationally with 128 rushing yards per game.

Todman had all three of his touchdowns in the opening half as UConn roared to a 45-0 lead at intermission last weekend. The Huskies finished with 301 yards rushing, including 112 and a pair of scores by reserve running back Robbie Frey.

With Temple having held Central Michigan to 43 yards on 33 rushing attempts, UConn will look to get quarterback Zach Frazer untracked. He struggled mightily against Michigan, going 18 of 37 for 205 yards.

Temple will be seeking its eighth straight win at Lincoln Financial Field. The last time the Owls won seven consecutive home games was 1940-41.