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FACTS & STATS: Site: FAU Stadium (30,000) -- Boca Raton, Florida. Television: SBC Network. Home Record: Middle Tennessee 1-2, Florida Atlantic 0-1. Away Record: Middle Tennessee 0-2, Florida Atlantic 0-5. Neutral Record: Middle Tennessee 0-0, Florida Atlantic 0-0. Conference Record: Middle Tennessee 0-2, Florida Atlantic 0-3. Series Record: Middle Tennessee leads, 5-3.

GAME NOTES: Florida Atlantic looks for its first win of the season and first win at the new FAU Stadium, as the Owls host the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee in a Sun Belt Conference showdown.

Middle Tennessee is coming off a bye week. The last time the Blue Raiders saw action they suffered a heart breaking 36-33 overtime loss to Western Kentucky. The Blue Raiders are winless in the conference as they also lost a 38-35 decision to Troy earlier in the year. Middle Tennessee hopes to win its first road game of the season this week as well.

Florida Atlantic fans were disappointed last week when Western Kentucky shut the Owls out in the inaugural game at FAU Stadium. Before the first home loss, Florida Atlantic went winless against the likes of Florida, Michigan State, Auburn, Louisiana, and North Texas. The Owls' best performance of the season came against the now 6-1 Ragin' Cajuns in a game that was decided by a field goal as time expired.

This will be the ninth time these two programs meet, with Middle Tennessee holding a 5-3 lead in the series thus far. In 2010, the Blue Raiders won 38-14 as they dominated the game with 445 yards of total offense to the Owls' 256.

Despite just winning one game, Middle Tennessee has the best offense in the conference and the 21st best in the nation. The Blue Raiders are averaging 468.8 yards of total offense and 30.2 points per game through their first five games. Middle Tennessee has scored over 30 points in each of its last three games.

The nation's 17th best passing offense is led by Logan Kilgore as he has completed 123-of-211 throws for 1,412 yards with 12 touchdown passes. Kilgore looked unstoppable in the Blue Raiders' 38-35 loss at Troy as he threw for 415 yards and five touchdowns. Kilgore's favorite target has been Malcolm Beyah. The senior receiver leads the team with 26 receptions for 309 yards and four touchdowns.

The Blue Raiders' rushing attack has a variety of weapons. Leading rusher Benny Cunningham is questionable for Saturday's game, but could make an impact if available. Cunningham rushed for 80 yards against Georgia Tech and 117 yards against Troy before sustaining an injury against Memphis. With Cunningham absent recently, D.D. Kyles has been stealing the show. Kyles dashed for 105 yards and a touchdown in the win over Memphis and followed it with a 96-yard, one-TD performance against Western Kentucky.

The Middle Tennessee defense needs to give the offense some help to get the Blue Raiders more checks in the win column. The rushing defense has been a doormat to opponents as the 209.4 rushing yards allowed per game is the worst in the conference. The Blue Raiders are allowing an average of 456 yards and 36.2 points per game, which rank 112th and 114th nationally. Eric Russell is leading the defense with 43 tackles on the year.

Florida Atlantic is searching for answers on both sides of the ball. The offensive unit is the worst in the nation in yards and points per game. The Owls were completely shut down by Western Kentucky as the Hilltoppers held them to 121 yards of total offense.

The fact that starting quarterback Wilbert Graham is listed as questionable for this week's matchup does not help either. Graham has struggled this season throwing seven interceptions while completing just 50 percent of his passes. With Graham out against Western Kentucky, David Kooi stepped in and completed 10-of-21 passes for 79 yards.

The best offensive weapon for the Owls has been running back Alfred Morris. The senior has rushed for 389 yards and two touchdowns for the season. His best performance came against North Texas as he carried the ball 23 times for 162 times and a score. He will hope to duplicate that performance this weekend.

The Florida Atlantic defense is not much better than the offensive unit but has shown steady improvement. The Owls' best performance was against North Texas as they held the Mean Green to 237 yards of total offense. The rushing defense has been terrible consistently. Last week Bobby Rainey and Western Kentucky had 204 rushing yards against the Owls. Randell Johnson has been a strong player for the defense with 46 tackles and nine TFLs. David Hinds leads the team with 50 tackles.

Middle Tennessee's offense should find success against a porous Owl's defense. Florida Atlantic will need Morris to carry the load if they hope to find their first win of the season.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Middle Tennessee 31, Florida Atlantic 17