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FACTS & STATS: Site: Sun Bowl Stadium (51,500) -- El Paso, Texas. Television: CBSSN. Home Record: USM 4-0, UTEP 2-1. Away Record: USM 2-1, UTEP 2-2. Neutral Record: USM 0-0, UTEP 0-0. Conference Record: USM 2-1, UTEP 1-2. Series Record: Series tied, 2-2.

GAME NOTES: The Golden Eagles are soaring high at the present moment and will look to continue their impressive run when Southern Miss heads to El Paso to take on the Miners in a Conference-USA bout at Sun Bowl Stadium.

The only blemish on Southern Mississippi's ledger this year is a 26-20 setback to Marshall. However, since then the Golden Eagles have been unstoppable, winning five straight games and four of those decisions came by double figures. The last time Southern Miss was in action the team dismantled SMU, 27-3, moving to 2-1 in league play.

The Miners have also played well of late, winning two straight games. However, the second victory was an out of conference decision over Colorado State, 31-17. This is just the fourth home game on the season for Texas-El Paso, which is currently 2-1 in front of a home crowd.

This will be the fifth meeting between the two schools on the football and field and the previous four matchups were split down the middle. This is the first time the Miners will host Southern Miss since the Golden Eagles defeated UTEP, 56-30 in 2007. The last matchup however, went in favor of Texas-El Paso, which defeated the Golden Eagles, 40-37, in overtime back in 2008.

The Golden Eagles were able to do something many other programs had a tough time doing this season and that is run the football against SMU. Southern Miss racked up 187 yards in the victory and the majority of damage was done by Jamal Woodyard, who finished with 116 yards and one touchdown.

However, the Golden Eagles did not showcase a one-sided attack, as QB Austin Davis also found success in the matchup, throwing for 266 yards and one touchdown. The score went to Kelvin Bolden, who finished with 81 yards on nine receptions.

Bolden has hauled in five touchdowns on the year and is clearly Davis' favorite target, but the quarterback is not picky, completing at least one pass to 14 different players. Davis is one of the more polished QBs in the conference and comes into this weekend with 1,824 yards and 14 touchdowns against seven interceptions.

Davis has more time to throw because opposing defenses have to worry about a rushing attack that is averaging over 200.0 yards per game. There is not one clear cut workhorse in the backfield though, as Woodyard is just one of many players to earn carries. The Golden Eagles should become even more dangerous in this area when Kendrick Hardy returns from a shoulder injury.

Plenty of attention is being focused on the offense of Southern Miss and rightfully so, but the defense has been just as impressive. The Golden Eagles have allowed just six rushing touchdowns on the season and have been equally solid against the pass, allowing just seven touchdown, while recording 10 interceptions.

Overall though, the team has forced just 12 turnovers, and pressuring the quarterback has proven to be hit or miss, with only 12 sacks on the year.

Two of those takeaways came in the win over SMU, as the Golden Eagles finished with two interceptions, while limiting the Mustangs to just 173 yards through the air. Marquese Wheaton hauled in both picks and is now tied for the team lead with three.

The Miners scored 14 first-quarter points against Colorado State in their last game and never looked back en route to a convincing win. Vernon Frazier led the charge with 167 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while QB Nick Lamaison added 47 yards and one score as well. Lamaison also threw for 116 yards and tossed a touchdown in the win.

Throughout the season the Miners have relied heavily on the run, and while Frazier comes into this weekend with 268 yards and three touchdowns, he has not been the best back for UTEP. Joe Banyard is pacing the team with 514 yards, while Leilyon Myers has a team-best six touchdowns. All three backs are dangerous though, and they give the coaching staff a multitude of options.

The reason why UTEP has leaned more on the rushing attack is because Lamaison has been erratic under center. In five games the quarterback has thrown eight touchdowns against six interceptions.

The success of the offense has been the downfall of the defense though, as the Miners are being gashed for 175.1 ypg on the ground. Out of the 19 touchdowns surrendered by this unit 14 have come via the run.

The team's inability to stop the run has given the opposition plenty of chances to score and they have for the most part, averaging 26.7 ppg.

Fortunately the Miners were up against a team in Colorado State that has struggled to move the ball on the ground, and because of that the Miners were able to hold the Rams under 100 yards. UTEP allowed just 2.2 yards per carry and its success in that area is a big reason for the team's victory.

Texas-El Paso did much more than just stop Colorado State's attempt at establishing a rushing attack, but the defense also forced two turnovers and recorded seven sacks. It was by far the best pressure this defense has showcased all year, entering with only 12 sacks.

The Miners have won two in a row and are playing at a high level, but they are nowhere close to Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles could be the most complete team in the conference and even though they are on the road, they should have no problem remaining in the win column.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Southern Miss 34, Texas-El Paso 24