Houston @ Temple preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 5, 2015 ) Temple 13, Houston 24

Quarterback jobs are up in the air at both Houston and host Temple as the teams prepare for Saturday's American Athletic Conference matchup. The Cougars' offense was inconsistent in a home loss to Texas Tech last week, while the Owls' was nearly nonexistent against South Florida.

Three quarterbacks combined for four interceptions while the Owls finished with six turnovers and minus-4 rushing yards in a 43-7 loss to USF, leaving plenty of questions for the defending AAC champs. "Everything will be determined by how (the quarterbacks) perform in practice," first-year coach Geoff Collins told reporters on Monday. First-year coach Major Applewhite had a similar quote in Houston, where starter Kyle Allen has committed six turnovers in three starts and backup Kyle Postma led the Cougars to two late scores last week. Applewhite listed turnovers, dropped passes and bad snaps on the things the Cougars need to correct as league play begins for them.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNU. LINE: Houston -13.5

ABOUT HOUSTON (2-1): Allen (80-of-104, 771 yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions) and Postma (11-of-18, 145, one, zero and 58 rushing yards) also may share time with quarterback-turned-receiver D'Eriq King, who made five catches for 50 yards and a TD last week. King, who missed the first two games of the season with a knee injury, could be used at quarterback in some packages. Linebacker Matthew Adams leads the AAC with 11.3 tackles while the Cougars, who are 5-0 against Temple, are ranked 18th nationally in scoring defense (15.3 points).

ABOUT TEMPLE (2-2, 0-1 AAC): Sophomore Logan Marchi (64-of-119, 799 yards, five TDs, three INTs) and junior Frank Nutile (4-of-12, 57 yards, INT) have taken the majority of snaps for a team ranked 122nd in total offense (288.8 yards) and 115th in scoring (17 points). Ryquell Armstead leads the Owls with 180 yards on the ground while fullback Nick Sharga (12 carries, 37 yards) has scored the team's lone rushing touchdown. Keith Kirkwood (12 receptions, 185 yards, two TDs) leads four wide receivers with at least 10 catches.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Houston WR Linell Bonner leads the AAC with 8.7 receptions and is third with 85.7 yards.

2. Temple ranks 127th out of 129 FBS teams in rushing yards with 69.8.

3. Collins (director of player personnel) and Applewhite (offensive coordinator) worked together on Alabama's staff in 2007.

PREDICTION: Houston 27, Temple 17