The Owls, on the other hand, play with a grit and toughness that keep them in games despite youthful mistakes.
The question is: Will that toughness enable Temple to upset a geographic rival?
Here is a look at the game:
Statistically one of the best. Owls coach Steve Addazio said Monday that the Scarlet Knights look like the New York Giants on film.
"They look great to me," Addazio said.
The Scarlet Knights lead the Football Bowl Subdivision in kickoff returns (38 yards per return) and turnover margin (2.17), are second in the nation in rushing defense (60.8 yards per game), and third in scoring defense (11.5 points) and sacks allowed per game (0.5).
Owls can't believe the hype. Rutgers' statistics are eye-popping. Yet Temple must put them in perspective.
The Scarlet Knights have faced only one team that currently has a winning record. And that team, Howard (4-2), is a Football Championship Subdivision squad.
Rutgers' other opponents - Tulane (1-5), South Florida (2-4), Arkansas (3-4), Connecticut (3-4), and Syracuse (2-4) - have a combined 11-21 record. And South Florida (0-2), Connecticut (0-2), and Syracuse (1-1) are a combined 1-5 in Big East play.
Air it out at times. The Scarlet Knights rank 87th nationally by giving up 256 passing yards per game.
Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns against Rutgers on Sept. 22. On Saturday, Syracuse quarterback and Malvern Prep graduate Ryan Nassib had 356 yards and a touchdown.
Temple's passing attack is nowhere close to being on the same level as those programs. Owls quarterback Chris Coyer is struggling with his accuracy and appears to be too tense. But he did complete 4 of 9 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown in Temple's final fourth-quarter drive to force overtime against UConn.
Temple probably won't beat Rutgers without a couple of big plays in the passing game.
Superior ground gainers. Temple is identified as a "run first and often" attack, and you can expect Harris to have a heavy workload, assuming Matt Brown (left ankle injury) is unable to play.
The same can be said about Rutgers' Jamison. The sophomore tailback has 158 carries for a conference-leading 665 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Jamison is the third player in Rutgers history to rush for 100 yards in six consecutive games. His streak was snapped Saturday against the Orange.
Harris, on the other hand, has carried the ball 54 times for 275 yards and three touchdowns during the last two games. The Boston College transfer also leads the nation's active players in 100-yard rushing performances (24).
Limit the explosive plays. While Harris will test the Rutgers defense, the Owls must try to eliminate the Scarlet Knights' explosive running plays.
Rutgers has eight running plays of 20 yards or more this season. Jamison produced seven of those bursts, including two for more than 20 yards against the Huskies on Oct. 6.
Harass Nova. The Scarlet Knights like sophomore quarterback Gary Nova to convert third-and-manageable situations. He has completed 106 of 174 passes for 1,271 yards, 11 touchdowns, and two interceptions. The Owls can't allow Nova to get comfortable in the pocket. Temple must pressure the signal-caller and make things uncomfortable. If they are successful, his confidence should take a hit.
Keep an eye on Greene. With all due respect to Connecticut's Yawin Smallwood, Rutgers' Greene is by far the Big East's best defensive player. The reigning co-conference defensive player of the year lines up wherever needed and routinely makes plays. The Owls must prevent him from being a disrupter.
Watch "Owls Insider with Steve Addazio," hosted by Keith Pompey, as they preview the Rutgers game, at philly.com/owlsinsider2012
Contact Keith Pompey at kpompey@phillynews.com, or follow on Twitter @pompeysgridlock.
