FACTS & STATS: Site FACTS & STATS: Site: FIU Stadium (18,000) -- Miami, Florida. Television: None. Home Record: ULM 3-3, FIU 2-1. Away Record: ULM 0-5, FIU 2-4. Neutral Record: ULM 0-0, FIU 0-0. Conference Record: ULM 2-4, FIU 3-2. Series Record: UL-Monroe leads, 3-1.

GAME NOTES: The UL-Monroe Warhawks head to Miami this Saturday to take on the Florida International Golden Panthers in a Sun Belt Conference battle. The Warhawks enter the contest, which is their last of the 2008 season, with nothing to play for. With the exception of its first game on the road at Auburn and last week's tilt at Ole Miss, the Warhawks have played well for the most part, having lost three games by just one point and another by a field goal. UL-Monroe's most impressive win in an otherwise disappointing season was on November 1st when it beat Troy 31-30 at home. ULM has never lost a SBC game in the state of Florida as the Warhawks are 3-0 against Florida Atlantic and 1-0 against the Golden Panthers. FIU, although having a losing record coming in, is above .500 in SBC play and is still alive in the Sun Belt title race with three games remaining, although would need a lot of help. The Golden Panthers, after dropping their previous two games on the road at Troy and UL- Lafayette, rebounded with a one-point victory over Arkansas State. If the Golden Panthers win out, which is possible with two of their three remaining games being played at home, they would be bowl eligible. ULM leads the all- time series with FIU, 3-1, which includes last year's 28-14 win in Monroe.

ULM is coming off its worst defeat of the season at the hands of Ole Miss, 59-0. The offense, which has been average at best this season, was nonexistent against the Rebels. The Warhawks were held to 72 yards on the ground and just 59 yards through the air. Frank Goodin led the Warhawks with 41 yards on the ground, but Robert Williams was their best runner with 37 yards on only six carries for an average of over six ypc. Quarterback Kinsmon Lancaster completed 5-of-9 passes for just 30 yards and he left the game with an injury. His replacement, Trey Revell, completed only 2-of-8 passes and threw two picks. The Warhawks were just 3-of-15 on third downs. On the season, ULM is averaging 23.0 ppg and 150.8 ypg on the ground, which is fourth in the SBC. Goodin and Lancaster lead the way with over 118 ypg between them. Goodin is averaging 4.3 ypc and 69.0 ypg and has scored four touchdowns. Lancaster is right behind him with almost 50 ypg and three scores. Lancaster has been efficient in completing almost 60 percent of his passes for 1,884 yards and 16 touchdowns against only five interceptions, however, as a team the Warhawks are last in the conference in passing offense with 187.2 ypg. Darrell McNeal leads the team with 50 receptions and 53.7 receiving ypg in just five starts, and Anthony McCoy heads the club with five touchdown receptions.

The ULM defense deserved just as much blame as the offense in the loss to Ole Miss as the Rebels totaled 520 yards of offense, including an eye-popping 350 yards on the ground. The Warhawks did hold Rebel quarterback Jevan Snead to only six completions in 12 attempts, however, he threw for 170 yards and three touchdowns. ULM allowed eight offensive touchdowns in all, including five on the ground. Linebacker Cardia Jackson had 18 tackles in the game, while Josh Thompson pitched in with 10. The Warhawks managed only one TFL and did not register a single sack or takeaway. The ULM defense ranks last in the conference and 112th in the nation in rush defense, allowing 220.7 ypg. In addition, The Warhawks have just 11 sacks and seven interceptions on the season. Jackson has been ULM's best defensive player as he is sixth in the nation in tackles with 114. He also leads the team in sacks with three and is second with two picks to go along with two fumble recoveries.

Florida International is coming off a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Arkansas State in its last game two weeks ago. Wide receiver T.Y. Hilton had a school-record 199 yards receiving, but it was his 38-yard touchdown pass which came on a broken play that led to the decisive score. In the game, the Golden Panthers managed just 49 rushing yards but did have 359 yards through the air. Quarterback Paul McCall went 15-of-33 for 321 yards, however, Hilton accounted for FIU's only touchdown pass. On the season, FIU is at or near the bottom in most offensive categories. The team is averaging 21.3 and an abysmal 89.4 ypg on the ground. They rank last in the SBC in total offense, averaging just 277 ypg and with 187.6 ypg through the air they are only slightly better than ULM. Julian Reams leads the Golden Panthers with 37.6 rushing ypg and five touchdowns. McCall has struggled with consistency this season, much like the rest of the team, as he has completed only 49.8 percent of his passes and averages a mere 155.7 ypg through the air. He has thrown eight touchdowns but has also thrown eight interceptions. Hilton has been the Panthers' most dynamic offensive weapon as he is averaging over 28 ypr and 86.3 receiving yards per game. He also ranks second in the nation in all-purpose yards with 198.7 ypg.

The FIU defense, much like the offense, has struggled with consistency all season long. In the win over Arkansas State, the Golden Panthers held the Red Wolves to just 149 yards through the air, however, they allowed 222 rushing yards on 49 carries. Going into the game with ASU, the Panthers were forcing turnovers with 17 on the season but had trouble getting to the quarterback as they only had 10 sacks on the year. Although FIU was only plus-one in turnovers, with an interception, the Panther defense registered five sacks in the game, including 2.5 by Toronto Smith. Robert Mitchell and Ryan Martinez led the way with 11 and 10 tackles, respectively. On the season, the FIU defense has been average at best. The Panthers rank in the middle of the conference in scoring defense (27.7 ppg), rushing defense (169.3 ypg), total defense (377.3 ypg), but are third in pass defense (208.0 ypg). Mitchell is tied for the team lead in tackles (63) and sacks (three) and is second in TFLs (7.5). Quentin Newman only has 30 tackles on the season but 8.5 have gone for negative yardage, among them three sacks. Anthony Gaitor and Marshall McDuffie have combined for six of the Panthers' 10 interceptions on the year.

This matchup appears to have more meaning for the Golden Panthers as they attempt to earn a postseason bowl berth. ULM has not played very well this year and will probably keep the bus running when they arrive at FIU Stadium. The Golden Panthers are the better team and when you combine that with the fact that the game is being played at their house and with their season on the line, expect them to win rather convincingly.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Florida International 31, UL-Monroe 13

Saturday, November 22nd, 7:00 p.m. (et).