WHAT: No. 3 Villanova (9-0, 3-0 Big Five) at Temple (7-2, 0-0)
WHEN: Today, 3 p.m.
WHERE: The Liacouras Center, Temple University
TV: CBS College Sports
RADIO: WPHT-AM 1210; ESPN-FM 97.5
SERIES: Villanova leads, 43-40
LAST VILLANOVA WIN: 62-45, Dec. 29, 2008
LAST TEMPLE WIN: 53-52, Dec. 4, 2004

If there’s a team in the city that can beat Villanova, it’s Temple. Of course, the Wildcats have already beaten the city’s other four teams this season by an average of nearly 21 points, and Temple’s now the last one in the ‘Cats’ way. But the Owls can defend, and they don’t mind playing ugly. Which is why we’re giving them a chance when the Main Liners come to North Broad Street for the teams’ 84th meeting since 1914-15. More after the jump.

Temple is holding opponents to just 52.9 points per game, a figure that ranks sixth nationally. And seven of the Owls’ nine opponents have scored just 56 or fewer points this season. Which pretty much means we’re in for a delightful contrast of styles this afternoon, considering ‘Nova scored 97 to beat Saint Joe’s on Wednesday night — and pretty much needed all of it to escape the Palestra with a win.

Temple has three double-figure scorers in Ryan Brooks (13.7 ppg), Lavoy Allen (12.0) and Juan Fernandez (10.6). And Brooks is the Owls’ best perimeter defender. But we think Allen, with his skills in the post and his ability to defend and rebound, could give Villanova the most trouble. It will be interesting to see with whom the ‘Cats choose to guard him, actually.

Of course, if you’ve only read this far, you’d think Temple were the favorite. It most definitely is not. Villanova, after all, has easily swept through the city this season, and it’s won 21 of its last 22 city games. A win tonight would clinch the Big 5 title for the ‘Cats, but it would also give them their fourth sweep of the city in the last five seasons. ‘Nova has proven it can win just about every which way, and while it’s got five players who average in double figures, it’s also got a nine-man rotation that’s guard-heavy and tough to match up with.

Maybe Temple can. But the Owls are going to needs as good a defensive effort from everyone as they’ve gotten all season. Should be fun.