Hopefully a successful road trip will get Florida Atlantic University coach Lane Kiffin in a better mood.

“Not a happy place around here,” Kiffin said earlier this week in light of Florida Atlantic’s 36-31 defeat at home to Marshall last Saturday.

“That was discouraging and very emotional game to take the lead twice and not hold on.”

Kiffin was referring to FAU’s inability to hold two fourth-quarter leads against a traditionally-strong Marshall team in a Conference USA matchup – as the game-winning score came with just 36 seconds to play.

The loss snapped FAU’s four-game winning streak and put the Owls in a tougher position to win the Conference USA East Division. Western Kentucky is now 4-0 in division play, while FAU and Marshall (both 4-3 overall) are tied for second at 2-1 each.

To make matters worse, Kiffin was fined $5,000 by Conference USA for his post-game tweet about what he felt was bad officiating – FAU was penalized nine times for 90 yards.

“There was frustration with our play and, obviously, I was frustrated with the officials during the game,” Kiffin said. “You probably saw that.”

Kiffin and his Owls head to Norfolk, Va., for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday against a 1-6 Old Dominion team that has lost its last six games – including a 38-14 setback at UAB last week.

Kiffin downplayed ODU’s six-game skid.

“Well, we have to work on ourselves, first, regardless of who we are playing,” Kiffin said. “(ODU) is struggling in areas – we all have our struggles.

“We have to tackle. We have to play more physical and tackle better and we have got to run the ball more consistently. Hopefully, that happens this week.”

Florida Atlantic gave up 254 yards rushing against Marshall, as Thundering Herd running back Brenden Knox shredded the Owls defense for 220 yards on 22 carries – including the game-winning, 17-yard TD run.

Meanwhile, FAU’s ground game – which had been showing signs of improvement during the win streak – was virtually shut down by Marshall. The Owls picked up just 57 yards rushing in 36 attempts – a measly 1.9 yard-per-carry average.

And while FAU quarterback Chris Robison did throw for 362 yards, completing 21 of 39 passes, he was sacked seven times.

Robison, too, didn’t get much love from his coach.

“We had too many negative plays on offense,” Kiffin said. “The seven sacks, even though five of the seven weren’t even normal passes, just poor quarterback decisions.”

So, a lot is on the line Saturday in a game that FAU is favored by 13.5 points.

A win moves FAU within one victory of becoming bowl eligible and would send the Owls into a pivotal Nov. 2 pivotal showdown at Western Kentucky with a positive vibe.

A defeat would bring back thoughts of last season’s poor finish, when FAU lost four of its last six games for a 5-7 record – missing out on bowl eligibility. That 2018 bad stretch also started with a loss to Marshall.

If You Go

Who: Florida Atlantic (4-3, 2-1) at Old Dominion (1-6, 0-3)

What: Conference USA game – the fourth for both teams. Florida Atlantic leads the series 3-2, including a 52-33 victory last year in Boca Raton.

Where: Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium (capacity 21,944), Norfolk, Va.

When: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

TV/Radio: ESPN+/Fox Sports 640 AM

Line: Florida Atlantic is a 13.5-point favorite

Did you Know: Florida Atlantic linebacker Akileis Leroy has 3.5 sacks in seven games – tied for first among FBS linebackers. He is also tied third nationally in tackles for a loss (8.5)

Photos contributed by: Bob Markey / Courtesy of www.FAUOwlsNest.com