Temple @ Charlotte preview

Temple seeks to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1974 when the Owls visit Charlotte on Friday night. One of 29 remaining unbeaten teams in the FBS, Temple is coming off a bye week which gave the team a chance to reflect on a close victory against winless Massachusetts its last time out.

"It was kind of an eye-opener," senior center Kyle Friend told reporters. "It makes the point that we have to show up and compete at a high level every week. Not just compete, but at a high level. It's on us now." The Owls have quality wins against Penn State and Cincinnati on their early-season resume, which certainly has caught the attention of Charlotte's players and coaches. "We’ve got a tough game ahead of us," Charlotte coach Brad Lambert said to the media. "This is by far the best team that’s ever come to our stadium." The 49ers will have their hands full with Temple quarterback P.J. Walker, who threw for a career-high 391 yards his last time out.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Temple -23.5

ABOUT TEMPLE (3-0): The Owls struggled with UMass before escaping 25-23 on a field goal in the waning seconds as they improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2010. Jahad Thomas had 80 carries for 384 yards last year and already has arrived at 80 attempts and 394 yards this season, not to mention four of of the team's five rushing TDs. Nate D. Smith leads the American Athletic Conference with four sacks, while the secondary has intercepted six passes in the first three games.

ABOUT CHARLOTTE (2-2): The 49ers have lost two straight games while getting outscored 90-21 in the process. Offensively, Charlotte has veteran stars in Kalif Phillips (2,532 career rushing yards - 14th among active FBS players) and Austin Duke (2,388 receiving yards - 10th among active FBS players). The big issue has been turnovers, as the 49ers have committed a staggering 14 in the last two games, including 10 interceptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. This is the first Friday night game in the history of Charlotte football, which just joined the FBS this season.

2. A win Friday would mark the first time that Temple has ever played three consecutive games on the road and won all three.

3. Walker's completion percentage has dipped in each of the Owls' three games this season, and he threw two interceptions against UMass after throwing none in the first two games.

PREDICTION: Temple 33, Charlotte 13