FACTS & STATS: Site: Glass Bowl (26,248) --Toledo, Ohio. Television: None. Home Record: FIU 0-1, Toledo 0-1. Away Record: FIU 0-2, Toledo 1-1. Neutral Record: FIU 0-0, Toledo 0-0. Conference Record: FIU 0-0, Toledo 1-0. Series Record: First meeting.

GAME NOTES: For the first time ever, the Florida International Golden Panthers and Toledo Rockets will square off on the gridiron, as the two teams meet up in the Glass Bowl this weekend. FIU opened the home portion of its schedule with a hard fought 17-9 loss to 12th-ranked South Florida. Two of the three teams FIU has played have been ranked, and the Panthers' first two losses came in blowout fashion. The Panthers open their Sun Belt Conference slate at North Texas next weekend. Toledo is coming off a heart-breaking 55-54 double-overtime loss to No. 25 Fresno State. Coach Tom Amstutz rolled the dice and went for the win in the second OT, but Aaron Opelt and Robin Bailey couldn't hook up on the two-point attempt. This is the second game of Toledos three-game homestand. Not only is this the first meeting between these two programs, but it's also the first time Toledo has ever played a school from the Sun Belt Conference.

There is no sugarcoating FIU's offensive struggles, as the team ranks dead last in the FBS in total offense (182 ypg) and scoring offense (6.33 ppg). It wasn't until the final two minutes against USF that the Panthers recorded their first offensive touchdown of the season, which was set up by Wayne Youngers 61-yard pass to T.Y. Hilton. The Panthers went just 3-of-15 on third down, and finished with just nine first downs, and 189 yards of total offense. On the season, none of the running backs are averaging better than three yards per carry, and at quarterback, neither Paul McCall nor Wayne Younger is completing better than 50 percent of his passes.

The Golden Panthers were well prepared for USF quarterback Matt Grothe. They held the signal-caller to 137 yards passing, without a passing or rushing touchdown for only the second time in his career. Jarvis Penerton recorded a safety in the fourth quarter, when the Bulls were pinned back at their own one-yard line. The Panthers made several plays in the backfield, as they racked up six tackles for loss. Scott Bryant led the charge with 11 tackles, including 1.5 TFL. Jeremiah Weatherspoon recorded 10 stops and a forced fumble.

Running back DaJuane Collins is dealing with an ankle injury, though he is expected to suit up. The Rockets need Collins to be effective, considering he is averaging 120 rushing yards per game and has scored four times. He ran for 138 yards and two TDs against Fresno State, but had to leave the game early. Still, the offensive production came from varied sources in that contest. Morgan Williams added to the rushing attack with 142 yards and a score. Trailing 41-31 with less than six minutes to play, Opelt and company went to work, and eventually forced overtime. Opelt finished with 265 yards and three TDs passing, as the Rockets racked up 598 yards of total offense.

Obviously, when a visiting team puts 55 points on the board, there are some adjustments to be made on defense. The Rockets surrendered 189 yards on the ground (5.0 ypc), and they were equally ineffective against the pass. Fresno quarterback Tom Brandstater threw for four touchdowns, completing 22-of-28 attempts for 231 yards. Fresno State scored on all six of its red zone trips, and each of its first four possessions of the second half. Free safety Tyrrell Herbert logged a game-high 14 tackles for the Rockets, while Barry Church filled the stat sheet with 10 stops and a forced fumble.

Collins' health, and how effective he can be on that tender ankle, is likely the biggest key to the game. The Rockets have shown to be quite porous on defense, but FIU doesn't exactly have the type of offense that can exploit weaknesses at will.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Toledo 20, Florida International 9

Saturday, September 27th, 7:00 p.m. (et)