FACTS & STATS: Site: Bright House Networks Stadium (45,323) -- Orlando, Florida. Television: None. Home Record: Southern Miss 2-3, UCF 2-2. Away Record: Southern Miss 1-3, UCF 0-4. Neutral Record: Southern Miss 0-0, UCF 0-0. Conference Record: Southern Miss 1-4, UCF 1-3. Series Record: Southern Mississippi leads 2-1

GAME NOTES: Two struggling Conference USA teams meet this Saturday in Orlando, as the UCF Knights host the Golden Eagles of Southern Mississippi. After beginning the season 2-1, the Golden Eagles dropped their next five games, four of them to conference opponents, and were in desperate need of a victory when they hosted UAB last weekend. The Eagles responded in a big way with a 70-14 thrashing of the Blazers and now look for back-to-back victories for the first time this season. USM has played much better than its 3-6 record would lead you to believe. In four of their six losses, the Eagles lost by seven points or less, including two games decided by a field goal. The Knights come into this game having lost six of their last seven, with their only win coming against conference foe SMU back on October 4th. After two consecutive losses, the Knights were looking to make a statement in front of a national audience this past Sunday when they hosted East Carolina. After more than three-and-a- half quarters, UCF was leading the game only to see the Pirates rally with the tying score with just over five minutes to play forcing an extra session. The Knights turned the ball over on the first play of overtime and three plays later the Pirates kicked the game-winning field goal. The Eagles and Knights have only faced each other three times with Southern Miss winning two of those meetings, including last year's 34-17 victory in Hattiesburg.

The Eagles were absolutely dominant offensively against the Blazers last week as they ran the ball 62 times for an eye-popping 463 yards with nine of their 10 touchdowns coming on the ground. Quarterback Austin Davis ran 10 times for 81 yards and scored five touchdowns. He also threw a 60-yard scoring pass to DeAndre Brown, giving him six touchdowns on the day. Tory Harrison and V.J. Floyd each rushed for over 100 yards with Harrison scoring three times and Floyd Scoring once. The Golden Eagles' leading rusher on the season, Damion Fletcher, who averages 117.2 ypg, gained 86 yards on only five carries. The Eagles only attempted eight passes in the game, seven of which were completed. Davis hit 6-of-7 passes for 141 yards with the one touchdown. On the season, Davis has thrown 16 touchdowns against just seven picks in 330 attempts. Brown caught three balls for 97 yards in the victory over UAB, and on the season he has 49 receptions for 844 yards with 10 touchdowns.

Coming into the UAB game, Southern Miss had been struggling in allowing 32 ppg and 436 ypg in total offense, but the Golden Eagles responded in a big way. The Blazers were permitted just 127 yards through the air and only 96 yards on the ground. It was the first time all season that the Southern Miss defense held an opponent under 100 yards rushing in a game. The defense also forced six turnovers, including four interceptions and had two sacks. Linebacker Gerald McGrath continues to lead the team and the conference in tackles with 104 on the season, which ranks him fourth in the nation. Anthony Gray added a sack against UAB and now has six on the season to go along with one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. C.J. Bailey is one of four Golden Eagle defenders with two interceptions to go along with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

The Knights' offensive woes continued against the Pirates, as UCF was held to a measly 224 yards in total offense. Nothing seemed to work right for the Knights as they averaged just 2.2 ypc on 37 attempts and QB Michael Greco completed only 9-of-21 passes for 142 yards against the Pirates. Greco was the leading rusher for the Knights with 53 yards but it was his interception in overtime that led to ECU kicking the game-winning field goal. On the season, the Knights are averaging 113.1 ypg on the ground, however, they are averaging just 2.9 ypc with Ronnie Weaver leading the way with 43.5 ypg. Greco, while rumbling for 31.1 ypg on the ground, has struggled this season in completing less than 50 percent of his passes for 568 yards and he has thrown four picks. Only three Knights have double-digit receptions on the season, with Brian Watters leading the way with 29. Watters is averaging 15.0 ypr and has accounted for three of the Knights' eight receiving touchdowns.

Unlike their offense, the UCF defense has shown up to play each and every week. Against ECU, the defense did everything it could to carry the Knights to victory but in the end could not overcome the ineptitude of the offense. The Knights held the Pirates to 3.0 ypc on the ground and 134 rushing yards. The secondary, which is the strength of the team, continued its strong play by allowing only 13-of-34 passes to be completed and added an interception, giving the team 15 on the season. Johnell Neal leads all UCF defenders with four interceptions, followed by Sha'reff Rashad and Joe Burnett, who have three picks apiece. Linebacker Lawrence Young leads the team with 10 tackles for loss and the Knights lead the conference with 21 sacks, led by Bruce Miller's four.

Southern Miss enters this game feeling healthy on the offensive side of the ball and will be looking to spoil the Knights' homecoming. Although the UCF defense is right up there with any in the conference, it can not make up for the lackluster play of the offense. The Golden Eagles won't put up 70 against the Knights, but they should win the game easily.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Southern Mississippi 31, UCF 17