FACTS & STATS: Site: Davis Wade Stadium (61,337) -- Starkville, Mississippi. Television: FSN. Home Record: UAB 1-0, MSU 1-0. Away Record: UAB 0-0, MSU 0-0. Neutral Record: UAB 0-0, MSU 0-0. Conference Record: UAB 0-0, MSU 0-0. Series Record: Mississippi State leads, 4-1.

GAME NOTES: A pair of 1-0 teams will square off in non-conference action at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday afternoon, as the Mississippi State Bulldogs take on the UAB Blazers.

UAB struggled mightily during the 2013 campaign (2-10), but it is already halfway to matching last year's win total after staking claim to an outstanding 48-10 victory over Troy last Saturday. The Blazers have not fared well on the road in recent years, however, going only 4-22 away from home since 2010.

Mississippi State could not have asked for a better start in its opener last weekend, as the Bulldogs beat up on Southern Miss at home in a 49-0 victory. The Bulldogs have won four straight games dating back to last season and are 21-4 against non-conference opponents in Dan Mullen's tenure as head coach.

The Bulldogs have defeated the Blazers in four of five all-time meetings, most recently winning in Birmingham in 2011, 21-3.

UAB's offense was a well-oiled machine in the opener. It not only put up 489 yards and scored six touchdowns, but it was successful on 10-of-13 third-down attempts.

Most of the team's damage came via the ground game with 339 yards on 55 attempts (6.2 ypc). Jordan Howard turned 19 carries into 179 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while D.J. Vinson (22 carries, 106 yards, TD) was productive as well.

Cody Clements didn't need to do much under center, but he was still solid by completing 12-of-18 passes for 150 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also contributed to the stellar rushing attack with 37 yards and an additional score.

Kennar Backman (43 yards) made the most of his three receptions, as he found himself on the receiving end of both of Clements' scoring strikes.

The Blazers' defense, which allowed more than 50 points six times last season, was excellent in the triumph, yielding only 272 yards.

Jake Ganus tallied a team-high seven tackles and forced a fumble. Diahee Watkins had six stops and registered two of the team's four sacks.

Mississippi State's offense was sharp out of the gate. Despite owning the light end of the time-of-possession battle (28:09), the unit still finished with 550 total yards.

Dak Prescott shined under center by completing 18-of-26 passes for 284 yards with four touchdowns to just one pick while also adding 23 rushing yards. Damian Williams also saw time under center in the blowout, going 5-of-8 for 65 yards and a score.

De'Runnya Wilson (four receptions, 65 yards) and Fred Ross (three receptions, 61 yards) both hauled in a pair of touchdown passes. Malcolm Johnson (two receptions, 29 yards, TD) was also active for the busy passing attack.

In the ground game, both Josh Robinson (14 carries, 87 yards) and Nick Griffin (eight carries, 45 yards) made the most of their touches, with Griffin scoring a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Defensively, the Bulldogs were equally outstanding, holding USM to only 283 yards. It was the unit's first shutout since September 1999 and it has given up just one offensive touchdown in the past 13 quarters.

Preston Smith and Jay Hughes each registered an interception and Christian Holmes (six tackles) forced a fumble. Chris Jones, Nelson Adams and Quadry Adams each picked up a sack to round out the active day for the defense.

UAB appears to be a much-improved team this season, but it definitely isn't ready to stand up to an SEC squad on the road. Mississippi State has had no issue defeating inferior competition in Mullen's regime and should continue with that trend in this one.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Mississippi State 48, UAB 17