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FACTS & STATS: Site: FIU Stadium (23,500) -- Miami, Florida. Television: None. Home Record: FAU 0-3, FIU 3-2. Away Record: FAU 0-5, FIU 2-2. Neutral Record: FAU 0-0, FIU 0-0. Conference Record: FAU 0-5, FIU 2-3. Series Record: Florida Atlantic leads, 7-0.

GAME NOTES: Still in search of their first win of the season, the Florida Atlantic Owls visit FIU Stadium in Miami to take on the Golden Panthers in a Sun Belt Conference clash.

In terms of the all-time series between these two schools, FAU is a perfect 7-0 against the Golden Panthers. FIU was a 52-6 winner when these teams met in November of 2005, but the team later had to forfeit that victory due to NCAA sanctions.

Florida Atlantic enters this tilt without a win under its belt, and most recently the team was on the wrong end of a 39-21 final during its Homecoming game against Arkansas State last Saturday. Of the Owls' eight losses, only one came by a single-digit margin. They have four games remaining to try and avoid a winless season, as the Owls will stay on the road to face Troy next week before returning home for their final two games.

As for the Golden Panthers, they are hoping to rebound from last week's 10-9 loss at Western Kentucky in a game dominated by the defenses. FIU can become bowl eligible with one more win in its final three games. After hosting FAU this weekend, the Panthers hit the road for their final two games against ULM and Middle Tennessee.

Although last Saturday's setback to Sun Belt leader Arkansas State ultimately counts only as another tally in the loss column, FAU put up a decent fight against the Red Wolves. The Owls found themselves with a 21-18 advantage early in the third quarter, but their remaining drives resulted in two punts and a pair of interceptions as ASU pulled away late. Senior running back Alfred Morris enjoyed a solid day with 163 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. His second-quarter touchdown run was the 26th of his career, breaking Doug Parker's school record. While Morris was able to find some holes in the running game, Graham Wilbert did not enjoy the same success in the passing game. He finished with only 147 passing yards and threw interceptions on consecutive drives in the fourth quarter. Graham was also sacked four times. On the season, FAU ranks 119th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in both total offense (228.5 ypg) and scoring offense (12.9 ppg).

While FAU's offense has struggled to find its identity all season long, the defense has not fared much better as it ranks 108th nationally in scoring defense (35.0 ppg). Junior linebacker David Hinds has collected a team-high 78 tackles to go along with a pair of sacks. But as a whole, the Owls have not been able to generate consistent pressure on the quarterback with only 11 sacks on the year, and no player has recorded more than 2.5 sacks. Defensive backs Keith Reaser and Marcus Bartels have combined for four interceptions and nine passes defended, but without much pressure from the defensive front, opposing QBs have often had ample time to sit in the pocket and pick the Owls apart. Last week, Red Wolves quarterback Ryan Aplin threw for 244 yards and a touchdown, and he also scored four rushing touchdowns. He frustrated the FAU defense time and again, as Arkansas State kept the chains moving by converting 9-of-18 third downs. They also scored on six of their seven red-zone possessions, including five touchdowns.

Not a whole lot went right for the Golden Panthers' offense the last time out. They managed just eight first downs and 180 yards of total offense, compared to 24 first downs and 324 yards by the Hilltoppers. Their total of nine points represented the team's lowest scoring output of the season. FIU converted only 2-of-12 third downs and made only one trip into the red zone, which resulted in a field goal. Kedrick Rhodes found very few running lanes, as he finished with 42 yards on 15 carries (2.8 ypc). And in the passing game, Wes Carroll completed only 10-of-20 attempts for 128 yards and an interception. Leading 9-7 with just over three minutes remaining and needing a first down to run out the clock, the Golden Panthers instead went three-and-out and had to punt from their own end zone when Carroll was sacked for a 17-yard loss on third down. The Hilltoppers then took over near midfield and drove down the field for the game-winning field goal as time expired. Prior to that, WKU had failed on two field-goal attempts but ultimately came through when it counted.

Defensively, the Golden Panthers can take plenty of positives from the WKU game. They allowed only a second-quarter touchdown and then held the Hilltoppers off the scoreboard until the game's final play. They also came up with a pair of takeaways. Jordan Hunt led the way with a game-high 11 tackles (3.0 TFL) and a sack. However, after the offense came up short on its final possession and had to punt the ball away, FIU's defense had a couple of fateful lapses with the game in the balance. The Panthers gave up a 12-yard completion on third-and-10, then were flagged for a 15-yard personal foul penalty that gave WKU a first down at the FIU 26. It was the only completion of the half for Toppers quarterback Kawaun Jakes, but it was also his biggest of the game. WKU followed that up with a pair of five-yard runs to move into field-goal position for kicker Casey Tinius, who had missed his last eight attempts and had not made a field goal since the season opener.

After such a tough loss, the Panthers returned to practice this week with a renewed focus as they try and lock down that sixth victory needed for bowl eligibility. Playing at home with those stakes, expect FIU to come out much sharper in this contest and take care of business.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: FIU 27, Florida Atlantic 17