South Florida @ Temple preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2017 ) Temple 7, South Florida 43

Senior Ryquell Armstead and the Temple offense look to follow up a standout performance and keep hopes alive for a berth in the American Athletic Conference title game when fading South Florida pays a visit on Saturday afternoon. Armstead matched his career high with 210 yards rushing and ran for a conference-record six touchdowns as the Owls outlasted Houston 59-49 last week to clinch bowl eligibility after starting 0-2.

Temple head coach Geoff Collins lauded his offensive line that opened up enough holes for the Owls to run for 312 yards and eight scores, but he knows they will need another big effort despite facing a team that has dropped three straight. “We know we’re going to get their best shot,” Collins told reporters at his weekly press conference. “They’re a really good football team, they’re well coached and they have great athletes across the board. It’s going to be a big challenge.” The Bulls started the season 7-0 for the second straight season, but have allowed 133 points while losing three in a row after coughing up a narrow halftime lead and falling 35-23 on the road against Cincinnati last Saturday. “I want to get back to work this week because I know we’re better and we have to get better,” USF coach Charlie Strong told reporters. “We’ve got to play much better than what we’ve been playing.”

TV: Noon ET, ESPNews. LINE: Temple -14

ABOUT SOUTH FLORIDA (7-3, 3-3 American): Starting quarterback Blake Barnett (2,416 yards and 11 touchdowns passing) is questionable with a shoulder injury after missing last week’s game as Chris Oladokun (10-of-22, 165 yards, two TDs) and Brett Kean (4-of-10, 67, one) played in his place. Senior receiver Tyre McCants (53 catches, 572 yards, three TDs) is the top target, but junior tight end Mitchell Wilcox had seven catches for 90 yards last week to bring him within 96 of 1,000 yards in his career “Wilcox is a mismatch for any team,” Strong told reporters. “When he’s on the field, we don’t have to go with four wide receivers because really you can flex him out.”

ABOUT TEMPLE (6-4, 5-1): Armstead, whose other 210-yard rushing performance came against USF in 2016, has missed two games this season but needs 22 yards to reach 1,000 for the first time in his career. Sophomore Anthony Russo has thrown for 2,071 yards and 13 touchdowns but his 12 interceptions are a concern, while senior Ventell Bryant is the top target with 42 receptions and 565 yards - becoming the school’s all-time leader in career receiving yards (2,319). The Owls are 17th in the nation in passing defense (181.4 yards per game), led by junior linebacker Shaun Bradley (team-high 68 tackles) and senior lineman Michael Dogbe (seven sacks).

EXTRA POINTS

1. McCants has 16 receiving touchdowns, one behind Andre Davis for the most in USF history.

2. Bryant has 164 career catches, needing two to pass Zamir Cobb (2000-03) and become the school’s career leader.

3. South Florida RB Jordan Cronkrite is 18 yards from becoming the fifth player in team history to rush for 1,000 in a season.

PREDICTION: Temple 42, South Florida 28