Scouting: Temple @ Northern Illinois

Temple (4-1, 1-0) at Northern Illinois (3-2, 1-0)

When:11 a.m. at Huskie Stadium

TV:: WPWR Channel 50; Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Series:: NIU leads 2-1

Coaches:: Al Golden (23-31, fifth year at Temple); Jerry Kill (16-15, third year at NIU; 120-72 in 17th year overall).

layers to watch:: Some BCS schools would kill for Temple's pair of sophomore running backs. Usual starter Bernard Pierce put up 211 yards and 4 touchdowns against Connecticut and Penn State before leaving with a high ankle sprain. With Pierce out last week (and potentially this week), backup Matt Brown stepped in and rushed 28 times for 226 yards and 4 TDs against Army. Junior QB Chester Stewart doesn't have special numbers (58 of 105, 683 yards) while Willowbrook HS grad Colin Madison leads a big and accomplished offensive line.

NIU boasts a terrific 1-2 offensive punch as senior RB Chad Spann ranks 19th nationally with 108.4 rushing yards per game while junior QB Chandler Harnish ranks 20th in passing efficiency with a 158.6 rating. Senior LB Alex Kube leads the Huskies with 34 tackles, which doesn't sound like a lot until you realize how deep NIU is on defense. Nineteen Huskies have tackles for loss. Ten players own sacks.The skinny:: NIU opens a three-game homestand that will go a long way toward determining how special this season will be. If the Huskies plan to make this a preview of the MAC title game two months hence, the preseason West Division favorites can't afford to lose this game. East Division favorite Temple likes to run it just as much as NIU does, but the Huskies' edge should be in the passing game. Chandler Harnish hasn't thrown an interception since Sept. 11 and he owns 5 TD passes in his last 27 attempts.He said it:: Jerry Kill sums up this marquee MAC game: #8220;They've got a good football team. We have a good football team that's getting better. It'll be a lot of fun. I look forward to it. I'm sure Coach Golden will tell the same thing: You enjoy preparing for games like this.