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FACTS & STATS: Site: Milan Puskar Stadium (60,000) -- Morgantown, West Virginia. Television:ESPN-R. Home Record: Rutgers 1-2, WVU 2-0. Away Record: Rutgers 0-1, WVU 0-2. Neutral Record: Rutgers 0-0, WVU 0-0. Conference Record: Rutgers 0-0, WVU 0-0. Series Record: West Virginia leads, 29-4-2.

GAME NOTES: The West Virginia Mountaineers will try to continue their dominance of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, as the two teams open Big East play against one another in Morgantown this weekend. This will be the 36th meeting between the two programs, with the Mountaineers holding a commanding 29-4-2 lead in the series. WVU has obviously owned the series, especially of late, winning the last 13 meetings dating back to 1994. This year's clash though, could go either way, as neither program is off to a great start. WVU, after entering the season in the Top 25, is an even 2-2 following a 27-3 victory over Marshall last weekend. It was the second home win in as many tries this season for the Mountaineers, who are now set to begin defense of their Big East title. As for Rutgers, it began the season with three straight losses before finally entering the win column against Morgan State, 38-0, last weekend. The Knights now turn their focus to the Big East, where they have gone just 2-5 in openers.

The Knights scored 38 points in the first half last weekend, as they coasted past Morgan State. Rutgers managed just 297 total yards in the win, but that was mostly due to the fact the game was well out of hand before the half. Redshirt freshman Jourdan Brooks paced the team with 65 yards and three scores on 18 carries. It was solid effort by Brooks, who heads Rutgers with 241 yards and five touchdowns on the ground this season. He is averaging a solid 5.1 ypc, helping the Knights produce 136.2 rushing ypg as a team. Quarterback Mike Teel was also effective last weekend, as he threw for 188 yards with one touchdown and an interception. Teel hasn't had the start many had hoped for, tossing seven picks and only two touchdowns, but he is definitely capable of turning things around in a hurry. Kenny Britt has been his main target early on and he leads the team with 21 catches and 262 receiving yards. Britt missed last game due to a suspension but is expected to be back in action this weekend.

Rutgers' defense was simply dominant last weekend, yielding only eight first downs and a mere 109 yards of total offense to Morgan State. The team also forced four turnovers, in addition to picking up three sacks. It was certainly a confidence booster for the Knights, who have done a respectable job in limiting opposing team to 317.5 total ypg for the season. Rutgers, though, has been vulnerable against the run (166.8 ypg) and it will need to watch that against a WVU that moves the ball effectively on the ground. Kevin Malast is the team's top tackler with 32 stops for the year and he will need to be at his best against the run. Last weekend, he finished with five tackles and that was second to Damas Munoz, who had eight tackles, an interception and sack in his finest effort of the season.

The Mountaineers depend mainly on their ground attack to move the ball and so far they have been successful, averaging a hardy 239.5 rushing ypg. In a win over Marshall last weekend, WVU rolled up 493 total yards, including a whopping 319 on the ground. Noel Devine led the way with 125 yards and a score on just 14 carries, while Jarrett Brown posted 78 yards on eight totes. The speedy Devine now leads the team with 399 rushing yards and he is averaging a stellar 6.5 ypc. Trailing Devine by a few yards is quarterback Patrick White, who has rushed for 369 yards and two scores. He has also completed 73.3 percent of his tosses with seven touchdowns against just one pick, displaying his versatility. Last weekend, White toted 11 times for 61 yards, while completing 17-of-21 pass attempts for 130 yards and a pair of touchdowns. White injured his thumb in the game, but is listed as probable for this weekend.

WVU has held its own on the defensive side of the ball thus far and the unit is limiting opponents to 16.2 ppg and 327.2 total ypg. The defense, which has recorded 10 sacks, is giving up 201.8 ypg through the air with only three passing touchdowns against four interceptions. In a stout performance last weekend, the Mountaineers held Marshall to just three points and only 158 total yards. Just 39 of those yards came on the ground, and the defense also notched three turnovers. Reed Williams headed the charge with 11 stops and two TFLs last weekend, while Doug Slavonic had a sack and a forced fumble and recovery. For the season, though, Quinton Andrews tops the roster with 34 stops and John Holmes paces the team with three sacks.

The Knights have struggled against opponents at the same level and playing on the road isn't going to help their cause this weekend. WVU on the other hand, has fared well at home and behind another big effort on the ground, it should be able to keep that trend going this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: West Virginia 34, Rutgers 20