The UCF Knights (4-3) are in Philadelphia to take on the wavering Temple Owls (3-4) in a key game that could springboard the Knights in the final third of the season. A win would get UCF to 5-3 with four games left on the slate.

Let’s get ready:

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Game Day Guide

When: Noon ET

Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Weather: Mostly cloudy and a tad breezy, mid 60s.

Line: UCF -11.5 (73% of the money), Over/under 51.5 (OddsShark)

How to Watch

TV/Stream: ESPN+

Crew: Richard Cross and UCF legend Leger Douzable

Series

All-time: UCF leads 6-2

Last Meeting: 2020 - UCF 38, Temple 13

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Keys to the Game

When UCF Has the Ball

Despite Temple’s bad defense, UCF is a run-first team. With Isaiah Bowser on the field, the Owls have to respect the run. This will help open up the pass and give Mikey Keene a chance to throw on one of the worst pass defenses in the nation. While Keene should throw for more than 63 yards as he did against Memphis, he might not eclipse 150. Offenses tend to lick their chops when they see a defensive back leading the team in tackles. That means plays have a tendency to go into the second level of the defense and beyond. Leading tacklers Amir Tyler and M.J. Griffin both look like they will not be playing today.

UCF’s Key Players to Watch

• #16 QB Mikey Keene — 70/114, 631 yards, 5 touchdowns, 5 interceptions
• #5 RB Isaiah Bowser — 90 carries, 406 yards, 6 touchdowns, 7 receptions, 43 yards

Temple’s Key Players to Watch

• #31 LB Yvandy Rigby — 27 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 pass deflections
• #23 LB Jordan Magee — 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss

When Temple Has the Ball

Temple is going to be relying more on the pass. The team as a whole isn’t very good and the running game is not a source of strength for the offense, so it is likely they will be playing from behind for most of the game. D’Wan Mathis got the start last week and has thrown the ball a lot more than his run-first counterpart Justin Lynch. The two main targets have been Jose Barbon and Jaden Blue. Edward Saydee is their leading running back, but his production has not been great, averaging less than 4 yards a carry.

Temple’s Key Players to Watch

• #18 QB D’Wan Mathis — 81/132, 882 yards, 5 touchdowns, 2 interceptions
• #23 RB Edward Saydee — 49 carries, 191 yards, 1 touchdown, 9 receptions, 87 yards

UCF’s Key Players to Watch

• #30 LB Bryson Armstrong — 60 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 pass deflection
• #15 LB Tatum Bethune — 51 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception

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