Temple @ Memphis preview

Temple at Memphis

Temple will try to snap a four-game skid and record its first American Athletic Conference victory when it visits Memphis on Saturday in its regular-season finale. The Owls blew a 21-point halftime lead and gave up four unanswered touchdowns in the second half Saturday to lose at home to Connecticut 28-21. Linebacker Yawin Smallwood sealed the Huskies' victory when he intercepted Temple quarterback P.J. Walker and returned the ball 59 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 4:20 left.

"I'm extremely frustrated and angry at the way we played in the second half," Temple coach Matt Rhule said. "I just told the team what I really think. At the end of the day, you can't win football games if you're going to turn the ball over and have penalties."

TV: Noon ET, ESPN News. LINE: Memphis -8.5

ABOUT TEMPLE (1-10, 0-7 AAC): Walker, who has completed 60.6 percent of his passes with 16 touchdowns, seven interceptions and 1,756 yards, is having a fine freshman season for the Owls, who are seeking their first win since beating Army 33-14 on Oct. 19. Robbie Anderson has a team-best six TD catches and 695 receiving yards and shares the team lead with 37 receptions for the Owls, who have been affiliated with three conferences the past three years - Mid-American, Big East and American Athletic. Kenneth Harper has rushed 119 times for 556 yards and nine touchdowns - all team highs.

ABOUT MEMPHIS (3-7, 1-5): Redshirt freshman QB Paxton Lynch is 166-of-283 passing for 1,725 yards and seven touchdowns for the Tigers, whose two second-half penalties in the kicking game derailed any chance of upsetting Louisville in a 24-17 loss last week. With 789 yards and five TDs on 174 carries, senior Brandon Hayes is the top rusher for Memphis, which wraps up its season at UConn on Dec. 7. Junior wideout Joe Craig has a team-high 313 yards on 33 receptions for the Tigers, whose wins this season have came against Arkansas State, Tennessee-Martin and South Florida.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Temple has blown a fourth-quarter lead in its last three games in losses to Rutgers, Central Florida and UConn.

2. Memphis is meeting Temple for the first time.

3. The last time the Owls won a league game was Oct. 13, 2012 - at Connecticut.