Central Florida @ Temple preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 25, 2014 ) Temple 14, Central Florida 34

Temple hasn't been ranked in either of the major polls since 1979, but it is primed to crack the rankings if it knocks off visiting Central Florida in Saturday's American Athletic Conference contest. The Owls are off to their best start since beginning 6-0 in 1974, and this season's ledger includes victories over Penn State and Cincinnati.

Temple coach Matt Rhule is trying to keep things in perspective as the squad receives atypical fanfare for a program that has long been mediocre. "I really care about how we finish the year," Rhule told reporters. "We're one game better than we were last year. ... I want to finish the year in the Top 25." The Golden Knights are free-falling in the wrong direction with six straight losses, and coach George O'Leary resigned as interim athletic director earlier this week amid speculation his coaching duties also are on the line. "I've been at this too long to be concerned about stuff like that," O'Leary said in a press conference. "This coaching staff hasn't forgotten how to coach. We've won a lot of games here."

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN. LINE: Temple -21.5

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (0-6, 0-2 AAC): Junior quarterback Justin Holman returned from a hand injury to play in last Saturday's loss to Connecticut and has passed for 504 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in three games this season. The lack of a running game (51.2 yards per contest) and a plethora of mistakes (17 turnovers, four takeaways) have sabotaged the Golden Knights, who have lost their last three games by an average of 19.3 points. The defense hasn't intercepted a pass this season - the offense has thrown 12 - but is receiving solid play from middle linebacker Domenic Spencer (team-high 42 tackles) and defensive tackle Jamiyus Pittman (team-best 3.5 sacks).

ABOUT TEMPLE (5-0, 2-0): Senior standout linebacker Tyler Matakevich has recorded a team-best 44 tackles to raise his career total to 399, trailing only Lance Johnstone (429 from 1992-95) and Steve Conjar (492 from 1978-81) on the school's all-time list. Junior quarterback P.J. Walker has completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 914 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions, and his 40 career scoring tosses tie him for second-most in school history. Running back Jahad Thomas has been solid with 557 yards and seven touchdowns while receiver Robby Anderson has caught 19 passes for 220 yards and four scores.

EXTRA POINTS

1. UCF has won both of the previous meetings - including a 39-36 comeback win in 2013, when Temple's Walker passed for a career-best 382 yards and four touchdowns.

2. Owls senior DE Nate D. Smith has a team-high 5.5 sacks this season and 12 in his career.

3. The Golden Knights went 31-9 over the last three seasons before this year's collapse.

PREDICTION: Temple 48, Central Florida 13