Temple @ SMU preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 26, 2013 ) Temple 49, Southern Methodist 59

More than two months into the season, Temple finally suffered a loss - and a tough one at that. Still, the 23rd-ranked Owls have their eyes set on big things as they seek a strong rebound performance Friday against host SMU.

The Owls led late against then-No. 9 Notre Dame before suffering a 24-20 home defeat that stung badly but ultimately kept their primary goal intact. “Our goal is to win a conference championship. And at the end of the day, that game has no effect on that," Temple linebacker Tyler Matakevich told the media this week. "So we will watch the film and see what we did wrong and get it corrected, because we have a short week.” The Owls now must contend with a Mustangs team that has given up 112 points in two games against ranked opponents this season. "We've got our work cut out for us this week," SMU coach Chad Morris said to reporters. "We've got an opportunity to play a very, very good football team on a national television stage at home this week. We'll be prepared."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Temple -14

ABOUT TEMPLE (7-1, 4-0 AAC): According to coach Matt Rhule, Temple will be without a "number of starters" against SMU, including center Kyle Friend (knee) and perhaps running back Jahad Thomas (ribs). One player who will be on the field is quarterback P.J. Walker, who scuffled to 13-of-30 for 188 yards against the Fighting Irish as his completion percentage decreased for the third straight game. The loss of Thomas would be huge, as he leads the team with 904 rushing yards and 13 TDs - 245 more yards and 10 more rushing TDs than all of his teammates combined.

ABOUT SMU (1-7, 0-4): The Mustangs' seven defeats have come to teams with a combined record of 42-15, including three teams that are currently undefeated. Matt Davis leads the team in passing (1,779 yards, 14 TDs, four INTs) and rushing (450 yards, seven TDs), while Courtland Sutton is by far the most dangerous receiver on the squad with team highs of 38 catches, 719 yards and nine scores. Darius Joseph is another vertical weapon and needs four catches to move into third place on the school's all-time list.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Temple has not allowed more than 26 points in any game this season.

2. The Owls yielded a total of four sacks in five games during October.

3. The last meeting between the teams was the highest-scoring game in Temple history - a 59-49 road defeat in 2013.

PREDICTION: Temple 30, SMU 13