FACTS & STATS: Site: Liberty Bowl (62,380) -- Memphis, Tennessee. Television:None. Home Record: UCF 2-3, Memphis 3-2. Away Record: UCF 1-4, Memphis 2-3. Neutral Record: UCF 0-0, Memphis 0-0. Conference Record: UCF 2-4, Memphis 3-3. Series Record: UCF leads, 3-1.

GAME NOTES: Conference USA play is set to take place at the Liberty Bowl this weekend, as the Memphis Tigers entertain the UCF Knights. The Tigers enter the contest well rested, as they were out of action this past weekend. The team was last in play on November 8th, when it slipped past SMU 31-26. It was the second win in a row for Memphis, which pulled to an even 5-5 overall and 3-3 within the conference. The Tigers now return back home, where they have gone 3-2 thus far. As for UCF, it hasn't fared well in defense of its C-USA title, but the team is coming off a 30-14 victory over Marshall last weekend. With the victory, the Knights put the breaks on a four-game slide and improved to 3-7 overall and 2-4 in the conference. It was also the team's first road win in four tries this season. UCF leads the all-time series with Memphis, 3-1, and that includes a 56-20 triumph in last season's meeting.

A majority of the Knights' struggles this season have come on offense, where they are averaging just 17.1 ppg and a mere 235.1 total ypg. The offense has had more success on the ground (118.2 ypg) than through the air (116.9 ypg), but that isn't saying much considering the team is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry. Last weekend, UCF ran the ball 65 times for 213 yards, as it defeated Marshall 30-14. Freshman Brynn Harvey led the way with a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown on 33 carries. With that effort, he has now taken over the team-lead with 358 yards on the season. With the dedication to running the ball last weekend, quarterback Rob Calabrese wasn't needed much and he completed just 4-of-17 tosses for 29 yards and a touchdown. Calabrese has struggled greatly at times this season and has completed just 39.3 percent of his tosses for 604 yards in seven appearances. Brian Watters has clearly been the club's go-to-guy, as he leads the way with 35 catches for 520 yards and three touchdowns. No other player on the team even has 200 receiving yards on the year.

UCF's strength clearly resides on defense, as the unit is holding opponents to 25.2 ppg and 331.6 total ypg. The Knights have done a good job against the run (125.1 ypg) and have made up for the 206.5 passing ypg allowed by recording 17 interceptions. Getting pressure in the backfield has also been a strength of this defense, which has come up with 27 sacks thus far. Last weekend, UCF's defense was on top of its game, holding Marshall to just 229 total yards, including a mere 84 passing. The defense forced four turnovers in the contest and even scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery in the end zone. Bruce Miller headed the charge with nine stops, a forced fumble and sack while Sha'reff Rashad intercepted a pair of passes. On the season, Rashad now has a team-high five interceptions to his name and he also ranks third in tackles with 52.

The Tigers have enjoyed a good amount of success on offense this season, as they are averaging a hardy 196.6 ypg and an equally as solid 242.7 ypg through the air. Tailback Curtis Steele has been highly productive for Memphis and he has rushed for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns. In the team's last game, Steele went for 123 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries, helping Memphis amass 306 rushing yards in the win over SMU. The success on the ground has helped take some of the pressure off quarterback Brett Toney, who moved into a starting role following injures to both Arkelon Hall and Will Hudgens several weeks ago. Against SMU, Toney threw for 130 yards and a pair of touchdowns, showing he could get the job done. Carlos Singleton has been a favorite target of whomever has lined up under center and he leads the team with 48 catches, 740 yards and five scores. He was also a factor in the win over SMU, pulling down three passes for 71 yards and a touchdown.

On defense is where Memphis has had some issues this season, as it is allowing 27.8 ppg and 368.7 total ypg. The unit has struggled against both the run (163.7 ypg) and pass (205.0 ypg) and has forced far too few turnover (13) to make up for those yards. In their last appearances, the Tigers did a decent job in holding SMU to just 349 total yards in a winning effort. Memphis gave up just 38 rushing yards in that game, but it failed to record a turnover or sack. Alton Starr led the way with seven tackles and he continues to pace the team with 70 stops on the year.

The Tigers' offense is just too good for UCF to keep up with, so go with Memphis in a game that it has had an extra week to prepare for.