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FACTS & STATS: Site: Movie Gallery Stadium (30,000) -- Troy, Alabama. Television: Local. Home Record: UAB 1-1, Troy 0-0. Away Record: UAB 0-0, Troy 0-2. Neutral Record: UAB 0-0, Troy 0-0. Conference Record: UAB 1-1, Troy 0-0. Series Record: Series is tied, 3-3.

GAME NOTES: A pair of in-state rivals will collide on the gridiron this weekend in Alabama, as the Troy Trojans look to earn their first victory of the 2009 season against the UAB Blazers in a non-conference affair at Movie Gallery Stadium.

UAB opened its 2009 campaign with back-to-back home games against league opponents, and settled for a win and a loss. The Blazers were one of just two FBS teams in the country to open their season with a pair of conference games. The club's most recent outing, a hard-fought 35-33 setback against SMU, evened the Blazers' 2009 ledger at 1-1 both overall and in Conference-USA play.

As for Troy, the Trojans are off to a disappointing start to the new year and need to right the ship if the squad expects to win its fourth straight Sun Belt Conference title. The Trojans opened the year with a disappointing 31-14 loss at Bowling Green only to then face the No. 1 ranked Florida Gators also on the road. Troy was no match whatsoever for the Gators, who rolled to a 56-6 victory and handed the Trojans an 0-2 ledger.

The all-time series between the two programs is tied at three games apiece.

The Blazers are averaging 38.5 ppg so far this season, and have amassed a whopping 964 yards of total offense through just two games this season, including 517 yards on the ground. An average of 258.5 rushing yards per outing has gone a long way for UAB so far, helping the club to convert 14- of-16 red zone opportunities, all of which for touchdowns, as well as a 9- for-20 effort on third down. The passing game has been nothing to scoff at either, as signal-caller Joe Webb has completed 30-of-50 passes, for 447 yards and four touchdowns so far. Webb also leads the Blazers' ground game, racking up 291 yards on 38 attempts and three scores. Webb didn't have his best stuff during Saturday's loss to SMU, however, as he completed 18-of-35 pass attempts from under center for 226 yards and four costly interceptions. Webb did also complete two tosses for scores as well in the meeting, in addition to a 97- yard effort on the ground. Mark Ferrell added 85 rushing yards and a score in the losing effort, while Frantrell Forrest caught three balls for 69 yards and a touchdown as well.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Blazers have performed fairly well overall on the young season, despite the fact that opponents average 29.5 ppg. The squad has forced six turnovers to go with four sacks over the first two games, and the opposition has been limited to just 9-of-27 on third-down conversions. The Blazers have however, given up a whopping 828 yards of total offense to their opponents, a total that includes 588 yards through the air. The Blazers will no doubt need to get a little more stingy on defense, but as long as the program keeps its turnover rate respectable, it should start to find more consistency defensively. UAB allowed 28 points over the first two quarters against SMU, but virtually shut down the Mustangs in the second half, allowing just seven points over the final two periods of play.

The Trojans' 2009 campaign is off to a rather disappointing start, although a high-level of competition may have something to do with the squad's 0-2 mark. Troy managed just 139 yards of total offense against top-ranked Florida a week ago, resulting in a paltry six-point performance that saw the Trojans with just one red-zone opportunity and eight first downs. Signal-caller Levi Brown completed just 8-of-24 pass attempts for 66 yards during the meeting, with no touchdowns and an interception. The ground game was equally ineffective against the Gators as well, as the Trojans amassed a mediocre 73 yards, 44 of which came from DuJuan Harris. The Trojans' ground attack has been non-existent through the first two contests, as the club has gained a mere 57.0 ypg and a single rushing touchdown. Brown and the passing game have fared no better, as he has completed 36-of-68 for 329 yards and three interceptions. Brown does have a lone touchdown pass, but is also averaging a pedestrian 164.5 ppg.

The Trojans have struggled on the defensive side of the ball as well to open 2009, allowing opponents to rattle off an obscene 1,052 yards of total offense and rack up 43.5 ppg. The opposition is a perfect 7-for-7 in red zone opportunities as well, and six of those scores were good for touchdowns. Opponents are also converting 14-of-27 on third-down opportunities against the Trojans and have achieved 53 first downs as well. Troy will no doubt need to make drastic improvements in order to keep its defense off the field, although the 56-point outpouring from Florida does skew Troy's averages a bit. In that contest, Florida gained 663 yards of total offense, and kept the Trojan defense on the field for 17:46 of the second half. Troy allowed the Gators to convert 10-of-14 on third-down, in addition to 4-of-4 in red zone opportunities.

Troy will really need to step things up on both sides of the ball if it expects to get past UAB, even at home. The Blazers look to be too much for what has so far been a lackluster Trojan defense, and UAB should be able to handle whatever Troy throws at it offensively.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: UAB 38, Troy 17