The Owls (3-2, 1-1 MAC) also have a chance to play spoiler in their first trip to Scheumann Stadium. The Cardinals (3-2, 1-0) are celebrating homecoming and are 2-0 there this season under first-year coach Peter Lembo.
"We are [fired up]," Temple linebacker Tahir Whitehead said, "and, basically, we have to stop everything."
That includes stopping themselves.
The Owls committed four turnovers in a 36-13 loss to Toledo last week. Two of the turnovers came on interceptions. A fumble after a long reception accounted for another. And the Owls lost the ball on a punt return deep in their territory.
Defensively, Temple was unable to stop anything Toledo did.
"We've got to overcome last week and come out and play the way Temple plays," Addazio said.
Look for Temple to pass on early downs to keep Ball State from packing defenders in a box to stop Bernard Pierce. It's no secret that the tailback gives the Owls their best chance to win.
When the junior has success running the ball, Temple wins. When he's unsuccessful, the Owls lose.
Pierce rushed for 75 yards on 24 carries last week. For the first time this season, he did not score a touchdown. The Glen Mills product had only 4 yards in the third quarter and didn't rush the ball in the fourth.
"Your best players have to set up and play great in big games," Addazio said. "Having said that, it has to happen. . . . On any offensive football team, the quarterback has to play, got to make the plays that got to be made."
Temple quarterback Chester Stewart should have some success against Ball State. The Cardinals have the conference's worst pass defense, yielding 253.4 yards through the air per game.
Ball State isn't much better in rushing defense (207.4 yards per game) and total defense (460.8 total yards per game), ranking 12th among 13 conference schools in both categories.
"This will be a great opportunity for us to move our program forward," Addazio said.
