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FACTS & STATS: Site: Rice Stadium (70,000) -- Houston, Texas. Television: CSS. Home Record: Memphis 1-2, Rice 1-0. Away Record: Memphis 0-2, Rice 0-3. Neutral Record: Memphis 0-0, Rice 0-0. Conference Record: Memphis 0-1, Rice 0-1. Series Record: Series is tied, 1-1.

GAME NOTES: Two teams looking for their first league win of the 2011 campaign will collide this Saturday afternoon when the Rice Owls host the Memphis Tigers in Conference-USA action at Rice Stadium.

Memphis took care of business in the first-ever meeting between the two schools, as the Tigers defeated Rice, 38-35, in Houston. However, the Owls responded the following year by posting a 42-35 decision over the Tigers in Memphis.

It has been a tough run for the Tigers thus far, as the team has dropped four of its first five games, including two in a row. The lone win came at home against Austin Peay. Since that win the Tigers have been defeated in back-to- back matchups to SMU and Middle Tennessee. While Memphis lost to MT, the offense posted 31 points, which could be a good sign since the team tallied just 44 points through its first four contests.

The Owls have also struggled this year, winning just once in four games. That win did come in the team's only home game, a 24-22 decision over Purdue. However, in the three losses, the Owls have surrendered 34, 56 and 48 points respectively. The 48 points allowed by Rice came in the team's recent loss to Southern Miss, which dropped the team to 0-1 in league play.

Larry Porter's team might have lost four games already, but the team showed signs of life offensively in the recent loss to Middle Tennessee. Memphis rumbled for 165 yards and three touchdowns in the loss, led by Bill Foster, who rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns.

Taylor Reed managed the game well for Memphis, as the quarterback completed 25-of-32 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown. It was an impressive performance by the signal caller, who found Tannar Rehrer 10 times for 72 yards.

It was an excellent showing by the Memphis offense, but there is still plenty of work to do for this unit, which is posting just 15.0 ppg. Foster has 272 rushing yards and three scores, but as a whole the team is rumbling for a pedestrian 102.0 ypg on a weak 2.8 yards per attempt.

With the lack of ground support the Tigers have had to rely on Reed more, but the quarterback has not been able to take the game over, and instead has just five touchdowns against one interception.

The lack of scoring is more glaring due to the ineffectiveness of the defense, which is being abused by the opposition. Teams have had the ability to run or pass on Memphis, leading to a hefty 38.4 ppg against.

There is no quick fix for coach Porter, and all he can do is hope the defense can make drastic improvements or else it is going to be a long season.

This might be the type of defense Rice needs to face, because up to this point the team has been dreadful offensively. The ground game has done little, rumbling for only 107.2 ypg, and that passing attack has not been much better.

Taylor McHargue has tossed six touchdowns, but he has just 709 yards and has completed just 56.5 percent of his passes. Vance McDonald has been the main target for McHargue and comes into this game leading the team in receptions (17), yards (154) and touchdowns (three).

In the loss to Southern Miss, the Owls scored 24 points, but two of those touchdowns came from the defense, meaning the offense accounted for only 10 points.

McHargue and McDonald connected for the lone offensive touchdown, but McHargue finished with just 140 yards on 14-of-28 passing. The ground game was worse, as Rice finished with only 33 yards on 30 totes.

To make matters worse for Rice is the play of the defense. Even though the offense is not producing the defense has not helped by surrendering 40.0 ppg.

The Owls have been dismantled by the rushing attack, as this unit is allowing 272.0 ypg. However, opponents have scored 11 touchdowns through the air, to go along with 277.8 ypg.

This unit could do nothing right in the team's loss to Southern Mississippi, and was embarrassed for 654 total yards. The Owls allowed six total touchdowns, and by the final whistle had allowed 370 rushing yards and another 284 yards through the air.

Neither team has performed well defensively, so look for plenty of scoring. The Tigers are more consistent offensively, but the Owls are home and considering how poorly Memphis has been on the road, Rice should pull this one out.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Rice 38, Memphis 32