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FACTS & STATS: Site: Rynearson Stadium (30,200) -- Ypsilanti, Michigan. Television: None. Home Record: Temple 1-1, EMU 0-1. Away Record: Temple 0-1, EMU 0-2. Neutral Record: Temple 0-0, EMU 0-0. Conference Record: Temple 1-0, EMU 0-0. Series Record: Temple leads, 4-0.

GAME NOTES: The Eastern Michigan Eagles will begin Mid-American Conference action this Saturday afternoon when the Temple Owls invade Rynearson Stadium.

The Owls opened league play this past Saturday with a convincing 37-13 decision over Buffalo. It was the first win on the season for Temple, which opened the year with back-to-back losses to Villanova (27-24) and Penn State (31-6). Next up for Temple will be two straight home matchups against Ball State and Army.

As for the Eagles, they have dropped their first three games of the season, including a 45-17 setback to Michigan back on September 19th. Eastern Michigan has not fared well in league action since the start of the 2006 campaign, as the team has recorded a lackluster 6-17 ledger.

The Owls and Eagles have collided four previous times with Temple winning all four matchups. Last year the Owls won in a shootout against EMU, defeating the Eagles, 55-52.

After scoring just 30 combined points in their first two games, the Owls exploded for 37 points in their recent win over Buffalo. Temple only posted 293 total yards in the contest, and the majority of the team's success came via the run, as the Owls punished Buffalo for 198 yards on 4.9 yards per carry. True freshman Bernard Pierce was too much for the Bulls to handle as the tailback rumbled for 116 yards and one touchdown on just 20 totes. The success of the ground game took away from the poor performance by Vaughn Charlton, who completed just 6-of-17 passes for only 95 yards. Charlton did throw a touchdown in the win, but was also intercepted once. Unfortunately Charlton has been terribly inconsistent on the year and comes into this weekend with just 617 passes yards and three touchdowns against four interceptions. Pierce is currently leading the team with 184 rushing yards despite only having 33 carries, and Kee-ayre Griffin is second on the squad with 148 yards. After three games the owls are only producing 333.3 total yards per matchup and that has led to a mere 22.3 ppg.

Elijah Joseph earned Defensive Player of the Week honors in the MAC over the weekend after returning an interception 95 yards for a touchdown in the win over Buffalo. As a whole the Owls forced five turnovers in the win and although the team surrendered 380 total yards, the defense limited Buffalo to just 13 points. Temple was torched for 281 yards through the air, and stopping the pass has been a problem for this defense, as opponents are averaging 249.0 passing ypg and out of the seven touchdowns allowed by this unit five have come via the pass. After three games the Owls have been mediocre at best, as the team is surrendering 365.3 total ypg, and that has led to 23.7 ppg. What has helped this defense has been its ability to force big pays, as Temple has collected seven turnovers and eight sacks.

The Eagles were off this past weekend, and that was probably a good thing for EMU, which has yet to win a game and is also trying to get a new quarterback ready for this Saturday. True freshman Alex Gillett will get the call against Temple as he will replace Andy Schmitt who tore his ACL in the loss to Michigan on September 19th. The freshman saw limited time against the Wolverines, completing just two passes for nine yards, while rushing for 36 yards. As a whole the Eagles finished with just 285 total yards and the majority of the damage was caused by the ground game, which churned out 179 yards and two scores on 48 carries. Dwayne Priest led the way with 91 yards and one touchdown in the contest, and is currently pacing the team on the year with 301 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Priest will be called upon much more this Saturday as the Eagles will try to ease Gillett into conference action.

The Eagles had no answers for Michigan's ground game, as the defense was gashed for 380 rushing yards in the September 19th loss. As a whole the Eagles were pounded for 448 yards and that led to 45 points. EMU did force two turnovers and also recorded two sacks in the contest, but at the same time the defense allowed Michigan to convert on all five of its red zone chances. Three games into the season and it is evident that the Eagles have a serious problem controlling the run, as opponents are punishing EMU with 288.3 ypg on the ground and all 12 of the touchdowns surrendered by this unit have come via the run. On the season the Eagles have collected six takeaways, but come into this matchup with only four sacks and also have allowed opponents to convert on 42 percent of their third down chances.

The Eagles might be home but there are plenty of questions that will need to be answered by this team in this contest. Gillett will need to step in instantly and get the job done, but EMU's success will rest on the shoulders of the defense. However, do not expect EMU to contain Temple and its ground attack, as Pierce and Griffin should have big games running the ball.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Temple 35, Eastern Michigan 14