FIU Looks To Zip Past Akron

AKRON, Ohio (CBSMiami.com) – The Florida International Golden Panthers are in desperate need of a victory after dropping their past two games in a row.

FIU will try to right that ship when they travel to Akron, Ohio Saturday to take on the Akron Zips.

For FIU, it's all about getting T.Y. Hilton back to full strength. He played well against Duke, catching five passes for 102 yards, including a 63-yard touchdown pass. He's still trying to get back to the dynamic player he was early in the season, but a matchup against the Zips' passing defense may be tough.

The Zips are giving up just 163 yards per game this season, but they also haven't intercepted a pass all season as well. Akron's passing defense is ranked 10th in the nation through the school's first five games.

FIU's Wesley Carroll leads the Golden Panthers passing attack and he's been incredibly accurate this season. He's completing 62 percent of his passes and hasn't thrown an interception dating back to last year's Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

Just last week, Carroll completed 25 of 39 passes for 348 yards and three touchdowns.

The FIU defense isn't a slouch either. The team is ranked 11th in the nation in sacks, pulling down opposing quarterbacks at a rate of nearly three sacks per game.

FIU will give up the yards passing, which is what cost them the game against Duke. But, FIU's defense overall is giving up just 22 points per game, which is 42nd in the country.

Still, FIU's offense is only putting up 28 points per game, which makes for FIU's games to be real squeakers at the end.

FIU's game against Akron kicks off at 2 p.m.