Villanova at Temple
Kickoff: Friday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN 3)
Spread: No line
Watchability: The in-city rivals will vie for the fourth annual Mayor’s Cup. Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter is expected to participate in the coin toss and present the Mayor’s Cup Trophy to the winning team following the game. The Owls must avoid a loss to the FCS opponent with upcoming games against Maryland, Penn State and South Florida in the month of September.
Shining stars: Temple: Quarterback Chris Coyer is confident and poised after a stellar close to the 2011 season. The Owls went undefeated over their final four games after Coyer inherited the starting role in early November. Before coming to Temple, the left-handed quarterback had the chance to pick Tim Tebow’s brain in an hour-long meeting with the Heisman Trophy winner. While not Tebow, Coyer excels when throwing on the run and can scramble when needed. The junior quarterback ended last season with a Mid-American Conference-best 177.38 efficiency rating. Villanova: Like Coyer, Wildcats quarterback Chris Polony poses a threat with his ability to pile up yards in option situations. Dual-threat quarterbacks like Polony are able to keep drives alive by avoiding the rush or running on their own, Temple coach Steve Addazio said earlier in the week. Owls quarterback Kevin Newsome has mimicked Polony’s running tendencies over the last three weeks in practice. Newsome is adept at making plays with his legs and could help the defense prepare for the Wildcats’ sophomore quarterback this week.
Who could steal the show: Temple: Senior running back Montel Harris will make his much-ballyhooed Owls debut after being dismissed from the Boston College program last spring. Harris, the Eagles’ all-time leader in career rushing yards, impressed Addazio with his focus and work-ethic in preseason camp. Harris’ elusiveness makes it tough for defenders to get a clean hit on him, Addazio added. Villanova: Senior wide receiver Norman White could be the most imposing wideout the Owls face over the first month of the season. White (6-4, 220) has a knack for making a play on jump balls, Addazio said. It could explain why White received preseason second team FCS All-American honors from the Sporting News. Even if the Owls apply tight coverage on White, Addazio isn’t sure if they can stop him.
You going? Ranking the road trip: Expect a festive atmosphere outside Lincoln Financial Field. Over the last two seasons, both Mayor’s Cups have drawn at least 30,000 fans at the stadium. The contract between the schools expires this year, but Addazio hopes it’s renewed for next season.
Magic number for Temple: 218. The Owls rushed for 218 yards or less in three of their four losses in 2011, including 74 against Penn State and 145 versus Toledo. In nine wins, Temple averaged 287.7 rushing yards per game. In last season’s 42-7 win over Villanova, the Owls rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns.
Magic number for Villanova: 26. The Wildcats allowed 26 points or more in seven of nine losses in 2011 and 31 or more in six of the defeats. Villanova returns 10 starters on defense.
The game comes down to: Can Villanova stop Temple’s vaunted rushing attack? The Owls finished last season ranked 7th in FBS in rushing offense (256.54 yards per game), while the Wildcats ranked 86th in FCS in rushing defense (172.64 yards per game). Temple can control the clock if Harris and Matt Brown produce strong efforts.
Prediction: Temple 38, Villanova 13
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