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FACTS & STATS: Site: H.A. Chapman Stadium (30,000) -- Tulsa, Oklahoma. Television: CBSCSN. Home Record: UAB 0-2, Tulsa 1-1. Away Record: UAB 0-3, Tulsa 1-2. Neutral Record: UAB 0-0, Tulsa 0-0. Conference Record: UAB 0-2, Tulsa 1-0. Series Record: Tulsa leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: Still searching for their first win on the season, the UAB Blazers will make the trek to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane this Saturday night in a Conference-USA bout at H.A. Chapman Stadium.

The Blazers are coming off their fifth loss on the year and sixth straight since dating back to last season. The setback came against Mississippi State and it was an ugly performance for UAB, which totaled just three points in a 21-3 setback. It was the third loss this season that the Blazers were defeated by double-digits. However, there has been a couple of close matchups for this squad, as the Blazers fell to East Carolina (28-23) and Troy (24-23) by a combined six points.

The Golden Hurricane have only been slightly better on the year, winning just twice in five games. However, one of those victories came last week, as Tulsa clobbered North Texas, 41-24. Tulsa has been a victim of a brutal non- conference slate, dropping lopsided affairs to Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Boise State by 20 points or more.

These two schools never met on a football field until they were both members of the Conference-USA and since then they have squared off twice. Tulsa has won both matchups, defeating UAB 38-30 in Tulsa back in 2007, and once again in 2008, claiming a 45-22 decision in Birmingham.

Offensively the Blazers could be one of the worst teams in the nation and come into this matchup posting just 11.8 ppg. The team is averaging just 108.2 ypg on the ground and the passing attack has been equally as bad, as the team has yet to throw a touchdown in five games.

UAB did manage to rush for 145 yards in the loss to Mississippi State, and the leader of the pack was Pat Shed, who finished with 73 yards. Shed has been the best option out of the backfield for the Blazers, but comes into this weekend with only 201 yards and one touchdown.

While that is bad, the passing attack may be worse. So far the team has started two different quarterbacks, but neither have worked out. Bryan Ellis, who is currently dealing with a head injury, has thrown for only 463 yards and has three interceptions on his shoulders. Jonathan Perry started against Mississippi State, but so far he has completed less than 50.0 percent of his throws and has just 497 yards to go along with two interceptions. Perry threw for 195 yards against the Bulldogs, but was just 18-of-36 in the game.

The offense has clearly been bad throughout the season, but paired with an equally soft defense, the Blazers could go winless on the year. UAB is currently surrendering over 500.0 ypg and opponents have had little trouble finding success on the ground or through the air.

Mississippi State set up the pass with the run against UAB, as the team churned out 204 rushing yards and that led to 212 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

UAB did not force a turnover in the contest and only has 10 takeaways on the season. The biggest reason why teams have been successful against this unit is because UAB has been unable to get pressure in the backfield, with a mere three sacks on the season.

There is no instant fix for this unit and chances are UAB will continue to struggle for the majority of the season.

Tulsa might only have two wins on the season, but this is a team with a dangerous offensive unit. The Golden Hurricane come into this weekend averaging 28.0 ppg and have found success on the ground and through the air.

Leading the charge on the ground is a couple of talented backs in Trey Watts and Ja'Terian Douglas. Watts is leading the team with 380 yards, while Douglas has been tremendous in a reserve role, posting 296 yards on 7.6 yards per attempt.

The passing attack has also been up to the task this season thanks to the play of G.J. Kinne. The signal caller does have six interceptions on the year, a number coach Bill Blankenship would like to see remain in single digits, but the quarterback also has 962 passing yards and nine touchdowns as well.

Kinne was strong in the team's recent win over North Texas, as the quarterback completed 20-of-31 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns. One of those scores went to Bryan Burnham, who finished with 101 yards on six receptions.

Kinne needed to be that good, because the rushing attack was limited by North Texas. The Golden Hurricane finished with only 98 yards and the majority of the damage was caused by Watts, who tallied only 58 yards.

If Kinne can continue to limit his mistakes and the ground game can perform on a consistent basis this offense should only get better as the year progresses.

Initially when looking at the numbers it would seem the Golden Hurricane are a miserable defensive team, but that is not totally the case. In the team's three losses Tulsa allowed 47, 59 and 41 points, respectively, but each of those setbacks came against Top 10 competition in Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Boise State.

With that said, there are some areas that coach Blankenship needs to find a remedy for. Tulsa is getting clobbered through the air, allowing 310 yards per game and has already surrendered 11 touchdowns. Again though, any defense would have inflated numbers in that department when facing the likes of Brandon Weeden, Landry Jones and Kellen Moore.

It certainly doesn't help matters when the defense fails to make big plays on a regular basis. So far the Golden Hurricane have forced just nine turnovers, and pressuring the quarterback has been a weak point as well, as the team enters this weekend with only six sacks.

In the win over North Texas, the Golden Hurricane allowed 261 yards and two touchdowns through the air, but the defense did manage to grab two of its five interceptions on the year in the matchup. Dexter McCoil returned his interception 74 yards for a touchdown, while Shawn Jackson also had a busy game, racking up 11 tackles and one sack.

The Golden Hurricane should have no worries this Saturday. The Blazers have been dreadful this season. Look for Tulsa to roll for its second straight win.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Tulsa 53, UAB 17