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FACTS & STATS: Site: Dix Stadium (25,000) -- Kent, Ohio. Television: None. Home Record: Miami-OH 0-0, KSU 1-1. Away Record: Miami-OH 0-2, KSU 0-1. Neutral Record: Miami-OH 0-1, KSU 0-0. Conference Record: Miami-OH 0-1, KSU 0-0. Series Record: Miami-Ohio leads, 44-12

GAME NOTES: The Kent State Golden Flashes will open Mid-American Conference action this Saturday when they host the Miami-Ohio RedHawks at Dix Stadium.

The RedHawks' new season has gotten off to a rough start, as the team has dropped its first three matchups. After being outscored 90-0 in their first two games, the RedHawks suffered another embarrassing loss last week, falling to Western Michigan, 48-26. Dating back to the beginning of last year the RedHawks have dropped eight of their last nine conference matchups.

As for the Golden Flashes, they opened the year with an 18-0 victory over Coastal Carolina. However, since that win the team has suffered back-to-back losses, falling to Boston College (34-7) and Iowa State (34-14). Kent State is 9-23 in MAC competition since the beginning of the 2005 campaign and has not won an opening game in conference play since 2006.

The RedHawks have dominated the all-time series against Kent State, winning 44 of the 56 matchups. However the Golden Flashes grabbed a convincing, 54-21 decision over Miami last season in Oxford.

The season might be three games old, but the RedHawks have yet to put forth much fight on offense, and come into this weekend averaging just 8.7 ppg behind 267.7 total yards per matchup. The ground game has been atrocious, as the team is churning out 53.0 ypg on an anemic 2.1 yards per attempt. The passing attack has been slightly better, as Daniel Raudabaugh has thrown for 569 yards, but has only two touchdowns against five interceptions. Armand Robinson is leading the team with 14 receptions to go along with 149 yards, while Eugene Harris has been the speed guy down the field, hauling in two touchdowns, while averaging 15.5 yards per catch.

Both those touchdowns came in the team's recent loss to Western Michigan, as the RedHawks put forth their best offensive showing on the year. Harris finished the game with six receptions for 134 yards, while Raudabaugh threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Miami-Ohio finished the game with 362 yards through the air, but the game ground was still scuffling, posting just 59 yards on just 2.3 yards per attempt.

On top of the inconsistent offensive play the defensive unit for Miami-Ohio has also struggled to start the year, allowing an eye-popping 46.0 ppg behind 433.0 total yards per matchup. The RedHawks have been unable to stop the run or pass, as opponents are gashing Miami for 174.7 yards per contest on the ground, while also torching the defense for another 258.3 yards per game via the pass. The RedHawks have also lacked big play ability, collecting just three turnovers and three sacks on the season.

The team's inability to stop the pass continued in Miami's recent loss to Western Michigan, as the RedHawks were torched for 218 yards and four touchdowns through the air. Jordan Gafford finished the contest with 13 tackles, one TFL and one forced fumble, while Jerrell Wedge added 11 stops and 1.5 TFLs.

Much like their counterpart, the Golden Flashes have struggled offensively, averaging a meager 13.0 ppg behind only 275.0 total yards per matchup. The ground game has done very little, as Kent State is churning out just 83.3 ypg on a lackluster 2.5 yards per carry. Since losing Eugene Jarvis for the season the Golden Flashes will need Andre Flowers to step up his efforts. However, in three games the tailback has just 94 rushing yards on 2.7 yards per carry. Another injury the Golden Flashes are dealing with is an ankle sprain sustained by quarterback Giorgio Morgan, who missed last week's game. In the two games Morgan started however, he was not effective, throwing for just 239 yards, with three picks and no TDs.

Spencer Keith replaced Morgan under center in the recent matchup against Iowa State, and he put forth a strong showing, throwing for 255 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-32 passing. As for Jarvis' replacement, Flowers only rushed for 45 yards in the contest, but the tailback did haul in a team-high four passes for 21 yards. Overall the Golden Flashes totaled just 302 yards in the setback and could not overcome mistakes, as the team committed five turnovers.

If there is a positive note for the Golden Flashes this season it has been the toughness of the defensive unit, which is limiting opponents to just 312.7 total yards per matchup and just 22.4 ppg. The defense is allowing 146 rushing yards per game, but it is limiting the opposition to just 3.7 ypc. The Flashes have played well against the pass as well, holding teams to just 166.7 yards through the air.

Unfortunately in the recent loss to Iowa State the defense was gashed for 234 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 5.6 yards per carry. Kent State did force four turnovers in the loss, but the team did not record a sack and allowed the Cyclones to convert on 6-of-7 red zone chances. Brian Lainhart collected 11 tackles and forced two turnovers in the loss, while Cobrani Mixon also tallied 11 stops.

Neither team has performed well offensively, so do not expect a shootout in this contest. However, where these two squads differ is on the defensive side of the football and in that case the Golden Flashes have a huge advantage.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Kent State 24 , Miami-Ohio 14