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Temple, even after lopsided loss, still controls its fate

TAMPA, Fla. - On an evening when Temple was outplayed, outhustled, and pushed around by South Florida, the Owls tried to look at the bright spots Saturday after a 44-23 loss to the Bulls at Raymond James Stadium.

TAMPA, Fla. - On an evening when Temple was outplayed, outhustled, and pushed around by South Florida, the Owls tried to look at the bright spots Saturday after a 44-23 loss to the Bulls at Raymond James Stadium.

"We feel it is in our hands, and we have to go out and play our best these last two games," said quarterback P.J. Walker, who completed 20 of 48 passes for 259 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

The Owls still control their destiny. Temple is 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the American Athletic Conference. If the Owls win their final two games at Lincoln Financial Field against Memphis (8-2) and Connecticut (5-5), they will win the Eastern Division and earn a berth in the first AAC championship game.

However, if Temple loses once, and South Florida (6-4, 4-2) wins Friday over visiting Cincinnati (6-4) and the next week at 0-10 Central Florida, the Bulls would win the division. Cincinnati and UConn, with three AAC losses, remain alive in the East.

On Saturday, Temple hosts a Memphis team that is attempting to end a two-game slide. The Tigers lost, 35-34, at unbeaten Houston after missing what would have been a game-winning 48-yard field goal with 19 seconds left. The loss eliminated Memphis from the West Division title race. The winner of the Nov. 27 game between Houston and Navy will represent the West Division in the AAC title game.

Not surprisingly, Temple dropped out of the national rankings after being 21st in the Associated Press and USA Today polls last week. Temple was 32d in votes in the AP poll and 33d in the coaches poll.

Of immediate concern to Temple is fixing its suddenly leaky defense. For the second week in a row, it allowed more than 40 points. In the previous game, the Owls won, 60-40, at Southern Methodist.

In the last two games, the Owls have allowed 953 yards in total offense.

"We are not playing our type of defense, and I take full responsibility as one of the defensive leaders," linebacker Tyler Matakevich said. "It is just not acceptable."

The question is whether it's fixable against highly touted Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch and the Tigers offense.

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard