EagleBank Bowl
Tuesday, Dec. 29
Temple (9-3) vs. UCLA (6-6), 4:30 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: UCLA by 4.
Series Record: first meeting.
What’s at Stake
Temple makes its first bowl appearance in 30 years, a startling turnaround for a team that got tossed out of the Big East and went 0-11 in 2005. UCLA was on the bowl bubble and only got invited to RFK Stadium after Army lost its last game to Navy. The Bruins aren’t at their best, but UCLA represents a marquee name the Owls would love to put in their win column.
Key Matchup
Temple RB Bernard Pierce vs. UCLA DT Brian Price. Pierce ran for 1,308 yards and scored 15 touchdowns – the freshman from suburban Philadelphia needs one more TD to set the single-season school record. Price led the Pac-10 with 22 1/2 tackles for loss and was among the top defensive players in the nation.
Player to Watch
UCLA FS Rahim Moore led major college football with nine interceptions. The Owls like to keep the ball on the ground. If they’re forced to throw, they’d better watch out for Moore.
Figures
postseason game, beating California in the 1979 Garden State Bowl. … UCLA has won only one of its last five bowls, beating Northwestern in the 2005 Sun. … The Owls’ No. 1 fan is Bill Cosby. His favorite team from the Mid-American Conference won nine in a row this season. … UCLA overcame a five-game losing streak in midseason. … Temple coach Al Golden twice interviewed for the UCLA job that eventually went to Rick Neuheisel. … While UCLA and Temple have never played in football, the schools known for their basketball teams have met five times on the court. UCLA leads that series, 3-2.
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