FACTS & STATS: Site: Rice Stadium (70,000) -- Houston, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: Army 2-4, Rice 3-0. Away Record: Army 1-2, Rice 3-3. Neutral Record: Army 0-0, Rice 0-0. Conference Record: Army 0-0, Rice 5-1. Series Record: Series is tied, 1-1-1.

GAME NOTES: For the first time in 50 years, the Army Black Knights travel to Houston to take on the Rice Owls. Despite another stout defensive effort last week, Army fell at home to Air Force, 16-7. It was the Black Knights' last remaining home game of the season. They'll have a bye next week before squaring off with Rutgers in Piscataway the following weekend. With six wins on the season, the Owls have already doubled their win total from a year ago. They enter this matchup having won three straight, including last weekend's 49-44 decision at UTEP. During the win streak, Rice has averaged a staggering 45 points per game. The all-time series between these two schools is tied, 1-1-1. Rice won the last meeting in 2006, 48-14.

For the second time in as many weeks, Army did not have a 100-yard rusher, which. Collin Mooney, who had ran for at least 170 yards in each of the three previous games, has been held under 100 yards for two straight weeks. In last week's loss to Air Force, the Black Knights were held to a season-low 143 rushing yards. Still, they enter this tilt ranked ninth in the nation with 235 rushing yards per game. Conversely, due to their option-oriented attack, they are ranked dead-last in the FBS in passing with an average of just 52 yards per game. Mooney, who gets the bulk of the carries out of his fullback position, leads the team with 966 yards on the season.

Army's defense has really tightened during the past few weeks. Over the past five games, this unit is allowing just 15 points per game. The Black Knights have a good bend-but-don't break mentality. Air Force scored all of their points in drives that began in Army territory, with three of those drives resulting in only a field goal. Prior to that game, the Black Knights hadn't allowed any points in five of the previous 10 drives that began in their own territory. On top of that, Air Force was held to a season-low 174 yards of total offense. Josh Plumstead led the defense with 14 tackles, while Josh McNary finished with 12 stops, including three behind the line of scrimmage.

With its spread offense firing on all cylinders, Rice enters this game with the nation's ninth-ranked scoring offense (41.11 ppg). The Owls are putting up an impressive 316 passing yards per game, which ranks seventh in the nation. Quarterback Chase Clement had another big day against UTEP last week, completing 28-of-41 passes for 372 yards and five TDs. He also ran for a touchdown. Three of Clement's touchdowns were caught by James Casey, who finished with 142 yards on 12 catches. Fellow wideout Jarett Dillard caught eight passes for 93 yards and a score, while C.J. Ugokwe had a productive day out of the backfield, logging 103 yards on 19 carries. Clement is completing 66.1 percent of his passes on the season, thanks in no small part to the receiving tandem of Casey and Dillard. Through nine games, those two have combined for 144 catches, 1,894 yards and 24 touchdowns.

The defensive side of the ball has been a whole different story for the Owls. Their 4-2-5 defense has been abused time and again. Rice enters this game ranked 112th in the nation in total defense (467 ypg) and 113th in scoring defense (37.33 ppg). With the amount of points the offense put up last week, the starters should have been able to enjoy most of the fourth quarter from the sidelines. But that wasn't the case, as the defense simply couldn't keep the Miners off the scoreboard. What should be of particular concern for coach David Bailiff, especially with Army's triple-option offense coming to town, is that UTEP averaged a whopping 6.5 yards per carry. If the Black Knights are afforded the same gaping running lanes, they'll be able to control the clock and keep the Rice offense off the field.

The Black Knights may be a three-win team, but they've been playing well since the beginning of October. The defense is too good to let Clement and company carve them up for four quarters, and the offense possesses a running game that can gash the Owls defense for chunks of yardage.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Army 33, Rice 30

Saturday, November 8th, 3:00 p.m. (et).