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FACTS & STATS: Site: Lincoln Financial Field (68,532) -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Television: ESPN Plus. Home Record: Buffalo 0-1, Temple 0-1. Away Record: Buffalo 1-1, Temple 0-1. Neutral Record: Buffalo 0-0, Temple 0-0. Conference Record: Buffalo 0-0, Temple 0-0. Series Record: Buffalo leads, 5-1.

GAME NOTES: Mid-American Conference action will begin Saturday afternoon for two teams, as the Temple Owls host the Buffalo Bulls at Lincoln Financial Field.

Buffalo opened its 2009 campaign with a 23-17 victory over Texas-El Paso. However, since then the team has dropped two in a row, including a 23-17 setback to UCF this past Saturday. Buffalo, which won the MAC Championship game last year, is 11-6 in league play over the past two seasons, and the 11 victories are more than the team's combined amount of conference wins tallied from 2000 to 2006.

As for the Owls, they opened the season with a tough 27-24 loss to Villanova, followed by a bye week. The rest didn't do the Owls much good as they were in way over their heads against Penn State last weekend in Happy Valley, falling to the Nittany Lions, 31-6. Over the past two years the Owls have been mediocre in MAC action, posting a 4-4 ledger in back-to-back seasons. Next up for Temple will be a road matchup against Eastern Michigan, followed by a home game against Ball State.

In terms of the all-time series between the two schools the Bulls have won 12 of the 13 meetings, including a thrilling 30-28 decision last year on a Hail Mary in the final play.

The Bulls took a 17-7 lead into halftime in their recent matchup against UCF, but the offense was held scoreless in the second half, as the Knights fought back and stole a win from Buffalo. The Bulls totaled just 304 yards in the loss and the ground game was unable to produce at a consistent level, churning out just 86 yards on 2.7 yards per attempt. Fortunately the passing attack was able to cause a stir, as Zach Maynard completed 22-of-35 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown. The signal caller also tossed an interception in the loss however, an was sacked three times. Naaman Roosevelt, who also threw a touchdown in the setback, finished with nine receptions for a team-high 77 yards. After three games it seems the Bulls are a one trick pony, as the team has relied heavily on the pass. Maynard has completed 65.2 percent of his throws on the season for 743 yards and six scores against two interceptions. However, until the ground game can improve on its 101.0 yards per contest, the Bulls will continue to have trouble raising their 22.7 ppg average.

The defensive unit did everything it could against UCF, limiting the Knights to just 311 total yards, including just 141 passing yards, but it was still not enough. The Bulls did have some trouble defending the run, as the Knights gashed Buffalo for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 4.0 yards per attempt. Stopping the run has been a major issue for this defense all year, as opponents are currently punishing the Bulls for 172.7 yards per game, and out of the 11 touchdowns surrendered by this defense, eight have come via the run. Buffalo has also lacked big play ability in 2009, as the team comes into its fourth game with only two turnovers (no interceptions) and just three sacks. Another area of concern has been the Bulls' troubles inside the own red zone, as opposing teams have scored on 11-of-13 chances inside Buffalo's 20-yard line.

Surprisingly the Owls were not dominated by Penn State's offense, as the defense allowed just 31 points on 359 total yards. The one area Temple struggled against in the setback was against Penn State's rushing attack, which punished the Owls for 186 yards on 5.2 ypc. Temple forced just one turnover in the matchup and was unable to make plays during crucial times, allowing the Lions to convert on 7-of-13 third down attempts and all five of their red zone chances. Although the Owls head into this matchup winless in two games, the defense has played at a high level, and is allowing only 358.0 total yards per matchup.

Last season the Bulls beat the Owls on the final play of the game, but now it is time for payback, as Temple will look to make sure Buffalo does not have a chance to win this meeting at the end of regulation.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Temple 28, Buffalo 17