Don't bother mentioning to FIU all it can accomplish with a win against Middle Tennessee on Saturday night at FIU Stadium.

After a 47-6 drubbing at the hands of the Blue Raiders last season in Murfreesboro, Tenn., the Golden Panthers are still stinging from the loss, in which they trailed 47-0 at halftime.

''The cut didn't heal right,'' FIU linebacker Scott Bryant said.

``47-0 in the first half you can't really forget that. . . . It really has stuck there with us, because it happened so fast you really don't know what happened. That really motivates our defense to try and keep a zero on the scoreboard on their offense.''

Focused solely on Middle Tennessee, FIU is not concerned about the added incentives a win would bring to its football program.

An FIU victory would equal the Golden Panthers' best start in program history at 3-3. The 2002 FIU inaugural team started 3-3.

A victory would also tie the longest winning streak in FIU's six-year history at three games.

The 2005 Golden Panthers finished the season winning three consecutive games. And although it's still early in the season, if FIU wins Saturday it would tie Troy at 2-0 for the Sun Belt lead. The Golden Panthers play at Troy next week. But none of that matters to FIU.

''Our focus is just Middle Tennessee,'' Bryant said.

FIU has scored only six points in its past two games against Middle Tennessee -- both losses (7-6 in 2006 and 47-6 last season).

LOOKING BACK

''Last year they were just as good of a team as they are this year,'' FIU coach Mario Cristobal said. ``[Quarterback Dwight] Dasher came in there and he put it on us pretty good. He was effective running the football and even when we had good plays called, he found a way to turn it into a positive for them. They thumped us last year really good. . . . If you don't play assignment football against Middle Tennessee, they'll make you pay.''

FIU's lone victory in its three games against Middle Tennessee came in the 2005 season finale. Former FIU defensive back Kent Henderson batted down a last-second, Hail Mary pass in the end zone to preserve a 35-31 win in Miami.

Ironically, Middle Tennessee is coming off a win against defending Sun Belt champion Florida Atlantic, in which the Blue Raiders caught a Hail Mary touchdown pass on the last play of the game to defeat the Owls.

GETTING DEFENSIVE

With both the Golden Panthers and Blue Raiders defenses playing well of late, Saturday's game could be a defensive struggle.

Middle Tennessee held the potent FAU offense to 13 points. In a win against Maryland earlier this season, the Blue Raiders limited the Terps to 14 points.

Since Kansas and Iowa scored 40 and 42 points, respectively, against FIU to start the season, the Golden Panthers are giving up an average of 14 points in their past three games -- two of which were wins.

''The great thing about our defense is we have playmakers,'' said Bryant, explaining FIU's recent defensive success. ``We have an understanding that everyone has to step up. We have a bunch of leaders across the board. That's what it has been these last three games, a lot of leadership.''

With a brawny front, physical linebackers and a ball-hawking secondary, Middle Tennessee's defense might be FIU's biggest challenge since Iowa.

''They are great up front,'' said FIU quarterback Paul McCall of Middle Tennessee's defense. ``They get pressure on the quarterback and they blitz a lot.''

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