FACTS & STATS: Site: Rice Stadium (47,000) -- Houston, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: UCF 3-1, Rice 0-3. Away Record: UCF 0-2, Rice 0-4. Neutral Record: UCF 0-0, Rice 0-0. Conference Record: UCF 1-2, Rice 0-3. Series Record: Series is tied, 1-1.

GAME NOTES: The UCF Knights aim for their first road win of the season as they head to Houston, Texas for a Conference USA clash with the Rice Owls.

The Knights are coming off a 27-7 loss to Miami-Florida in which they showed little life. UCF has followed each win this season with a loss the very next week, although there is no time like the present to begin a winning streak. However, the Knights are winless in two road games this year.

Meanwhile, the Owls are eight games into the season and still looking for their first win. Each loss has come by double digits, including last week's 49-13 trouncing at the hands of East Carolina. The Owls have been ravaged by injuries to the offense this season, although the team has been largely non- competitive on both sides of the ball.

The all-time series between these two teams is tied at 1-1, and Rice won the most recent meeting in a 40-29 final in 2006.

The UCF offense was missing in action against Miami, especially in the red zone. The Knights drove all the way down the field on their first offensive possession, but that drive stalled at the Miami 15 and they got no points when kicker Nick Cattoi missed a 32-yard field goal. Then, trailing by 10 late in the third quarter, UCF got the ball down to the Hurricanes' two-yard line, but Brett Hodges was intercepted after taking a big hit. The what-ifs were tantalizing in that loss, but the truth is the offense has sputtered for much of the season. The Knights rank 104th in the nation in scoring offense (20.5 ppg) and 106th in total offense (304.5 ypg). However, they have outscored their opponents by a 46-19 margin in the fourth quarter.

The defensive side of the ball is an entirely different animal for UCF. The Knights boast the top run defense in the conference, and 10th best in the nation. They once again allowed minimal running room for Miami, as the 'Canes netted just 70 rushing yards as a team while averaging 1.5 yards per carry. The Knights also love to get after the passer, as they rank 11th in the nation in sacks. That pass rush was on full display in a six-sack performance versus Miami. Overall, UCF ranks second in the conference in scoring defense (21.17 ppg) and third in total defense (344.17 ypg).

Rice wideouts Brent Hotard and Randy Kitchens are both trying to make their way back from injuries. Starting quarterback Nick Fanuzzi has missed time due to injury, and so has running back Tyler Smith, who just returned to action last week. All of that has helped contribute to an offense that is scoring just 16 points per game and averaging a mere 301 total yards. Fanuzzi is still learning his way in the offense, as he is completing 58.8 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and four interceptions. He has gotten virtually no help from the running game, as Jeramy Goodson's per game average of 23.6 rushing yards is tops on the team.

As poorly as the Owls' offense has played, the defense has been even worse, ranking at or near the bottom nationally in every major statistical category. Of the 120 schools in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Rice ranks 116th in total defense (470.29 ypg) and dead last in scoring defense (45 ppg). With the exception of a scoreless third quarter, ECU had its way with the Rice defense last week. The Pirates amassed 459 yards of total offense, converted 8-of-14 third downs and held a 10-minute advantage in time of possession. Travis Bradshaw and Cheta Ozougwu each notched 10 tackles in defeat for the Owls.

The Owls catch somewhat of a break facing a UCF offense that has been rather inconsistent. But the Knights' defense should have a field day against Rice's abysmal offense.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: UCF 38, Rice 0

Saturday, October 24th, 3:30 p.m. (et).