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FACTS & STATS: Site: Legion Field (83,091) -- Birmingham, Alabama. Television: CSS. Home Record: Rice 0-0, UAB 0-0. Away Record: Rice 0-0, UAB 0-0. Neutral Record: Rice 0-0, UAB 0-0. Conference Record: Rice 0-0, UAB 0-0. Series Record: Series is tied, 1-1.

GAME NOTES: Conference USA foes lock horns this weekend, as the Rice Owls and UAB Blazers kick off their seasons against one another at Legion Field in Birmingham.

The Owls are coming off a season to remember, as they recorded their first 10- win campaign since 1949 and earned a share of the West Division crown at 7-1. Rice also had the biggest turnaround at the FBS level last year, scoring seven more victories than in 2007. The team was rewarded for its successful campaign with a spot in the postseason for the second time in three years, earning a 38-14 triumph over Western Michigan in the Texas Bowl. It marked the program's first postseason triumph since winning the 1954 Cotton Bowl. Rice carries a seven-game winning streak into the 2009 campaign, but that could very well come to a quick end considering team lost significant players on both sides of the ball and opens the campaign with three straight road games.

As for the Blazers, they got off to a slow start in 2008, but a solid finished helped the team post a 4-8 record. While that mark is nothing to brag about, it was a nice improvement from a 2-10 showing in 2007. UAB returns a lot of experience all around and with lowly SMU on the schedule for next weekend, the team has a chance to get off to terrific start and compete for a winning campaign.

The all-time series between Rice and UAB is knotted at 1-1, with the teams last clashing in 2006.

The Owls' recent run was a direct result of their electric offense, which set countless school records over the past two campaigns. However, several key pieces from that record-setting offense, including quarterback Chase Clement and NFL receivers Jarett Dillard and James Casey, are now gone and Rice certainly won't be able to replace their production right away. At quarterback, John Thomas Shepherd, a senior that has been the backup for the last three years, has been competing with sophomore Nick Fanuzzi, an Alabama transfer. Toren Dixon is the best of the returnees at the wideout spot and while he is not the talent that Dillard and Casey were, he does bring something to the table after posting 50 catches for 598 yards and five scores last season. The instability surrounding the passing game will surely lead to more running plays and that will benefit tailbacks Tyler Smith and Jeramy Goodson. Smith is more explosive and has a big upside, while Goodson brings experience to the table. Much like the rest of the offense, the line will have several new faces following the graduation of three starters.

Rice's offense certainly won't be as potent as years past, so it is now time for the defense to step up its play and improve dramatically from a season ago. Along the line is where the Owls should be especially solid, courtesy of three returning starters. Scott Solomon and Cheta Ozougwu are a pair of talented ends and figure to give opposing offenses all sorts of problems after combining for 80 tackles and eight sacks in 2008. At linebacker, Terrance Garmon (66 stops) and Robert Calhoun (35 tackles) are two experienced players and they figure to play a big role in plugging up the middle of the field. Rice was torched for 269.5 passing ypg last season, but the secondary returns a wealth of experience and that should help this group rebound in 2009. Andrew Sendejo highlights the group, as the physical free safety is coming off a 94- stop, three-interception campaign. Former walk-on Travis Bradshaw emerged as a star at safety last season and big things are expected from the sophomore after posting 89 tackles.

For UAB, it starts and ends with quarterback Joe Webb, who was one of the biggest surprises in the conference last season. The multi-dimensional gunslinger is a terrific athlete with great speed and he not only threw for 2,367 yards in 2008, but he also set a new C-USA record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,021. He accounted for 21 total touchdowns (11 rushing), and will need to meet expectations if the team is to compete for a winning season. With the return of 10 other starters, Webb will certainly have the pieces to make a run at all-league honors. Wideout Frantrell Forrest, the team's top target the past two seasons, caught 42 passes for 536 yards and two scores a year ago and he has the talent to improve upon those numbers. Tailback Rashaud Slaughter paced all UAB backs with 514 yards on the ground and he also added 29 catches, displaying his versatility. An elusive back, Slaughter should benefit from an experienced and deep offensive line that helped pave the way for 168.9 rushing ypg a year ago.

Defensively, UAB must replace two of its top three tacklers from a year ago and while this unit does return a good deal of experience, it is short on talent. The line is deep and experienced, but there is no proven pass rusher and that will once again be a problem after finishing with just 15 sacks in 2008. End Bryant Turner led the team with four sacks a year ago and his non- stop motor makes him a candidate to improve on that number in 2009. The area of major concern for UAB comes at linebacker, where the squad was hit hard by graduation and transfers. Keon Harris, a former safety, started seven games a year ago and made 47 stops and he will now be counted on for steady production. In the secondary, the Blazers are hoping for some young players like Terrell Springs to emerge into steady producers. As a rookie last year, Springs caught the eye of the staff with his play, making 32 tackles, and he has the potential to be a lock-down corner this time around.

Rice has more question marks surrounding it than UAB does, so the Blazers are the better choice here. The Blazers also have the luxury of hosting this game and behind the efforts of Webb and company, they should prevail in a close one.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: UAB 31, Rice 27