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FACTS & STATS: Site: Floyd Stadium (30.788) -- Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Television: ESPN3.com. Home Record: Memphis 1-2, MT 0-1. Away Record: Memphis 0-1, MT 0-2. Neutral Record: Memphis 0-0, MT 0-0. Conference Record: Memphis 0-1, MT 0-1. Series Record: Middle Tennessee leads, 14-8-1.

GAME NOTES: The Blue Raiders have yet to win in 2011, but Middle Tennessee will look to change that this Saturday night when the Memphis Tigers come to Floyd Stadium.

It has been a rough start to the year for Memphis, which has dropped three of its first four games after finishing last year with just one victory. The lone win this season came against Austin Peay, but after that decision the Tigers were clobbered by SMU, 42-0.

As for the Blue Raiders, they might be 0-3, but they could easily be 2-1. The team opened the season with a hard-fought, 27-24 loss on the road against Purdue. After an embarrassing 49-21 setback to Georgia Tech, the Blue Raiders suffered another three-point setback, this time falling to Troy, 38-35.

The only win for Memphis this past season came against the Blue Raiders, as the Tigers won by a 24-17 margin. However, even with the win, Memphis still trails 14-8-1 in the all-time series.

The Tigers scored 27 points in their victory over Austin Peay, but in their three losses the team managed just 17 total points.

The scoring production could be due to a ground game that is producing just 86.2 ypg. Memphis has scored just one rushing touchdown thus far and lacks a true weapon in the backfield.

Taylor Reed has done an admirable job under center, but he is not ready to carry an offense, which he has been forced to do in 2011.

So far Reed has thrown for 721 yards and four touchdowns and has just one interception in 126 attempts.

Reed did not do much in the team's recent loss to SMU, but nothing went right for the offense which was held off the scoreboard. Reed only threw for 153 yards and had to manage the bulk of the offense, because the rushing attack was bottled up, finishing with -14 yards.

Obviously when the offense does not score the team does not win, but even if the Tigers were productive offensively the team would have probably still landed in the loss column because the defense was abysmal.

Memphis did nothing right defensively, allowing 162 yards on the ground and another 357 yards through the air. It has been a struggle for this unit, which has already allowed 21 touchdowns, while surrendering 535.8 total ypg. That yardage allowed per game ranks the team 119th out of 120 teams nationally.

The success for Middle Tennessee has come from the passing attack thus far, as the team is averaging over 300.0 ypg. Quarterback Logan Kilgore has stormed out of the gates and he is the main reason why Middle Tennessee is producing 26.7 ppg.

So far the signal caller has thrown for 862 yards and seven touchdowns, and three of those scores have gone to Sancho McDonald, who is leading the team with 14 receptions and 188 yards.

Benjamin Cunningham has made this a balanced attack for coach Rick Stockstill, as the tailback has rushed for 262 yards on 5.5 yards per carry. In the team's recent matchup against Troy, Cunningham once again set up the pass by rushing for 117 yards on only 19 carries.

The success on the ground opened things up for Kilgore and he took full advantage, throwing for 415 yards and five touchdowns. Despite the success offensively, the Blue Raiders still fell to the Trojans.

The defense was overmatched by Troy's offense. The Blue Raiders were unable to solve the Trojans' passing attack and by the final whistle had surrendered 347 yards and three scores.

Stopping the pass was clearly a problem for coach Stockstill's squad, but through three games the main issue has come against the run, as opponents are gashing Middle Tennessee for 238.0 yards per game.

This could be the perfect matchup for this defense, because Memphis has been dreadful offensively. If Middle Tennessee wants to improve defensively than this is an important first step for the unit.

There is no reason to believe Memphis will go on the road and win. The Tigers have dropped 13 straight road contests and have been miserable on both sides of the football. Look for Kilgore to take advantage and lead Middle Tennessee to its first victory.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Middle Tennessee 38, Memphis 17