Western Kentucky (5-3) at Vanderbilt (3-5)

11 a.m. Saturday

Vanderbilt Stadium

Nashville

TV broadcast: ESPNU

Radio: WPTQ-105.3 FM, WWKU-1450 AM

Starting lineups

HILLTOPPERS

OFFENSE

Ht. Wt. Yr.

QUARTERBACK

14 Mike White 6-4 225 r-Sr.

RUNNING BACK

32 D’Andre Ferby 6-1 225 r-Jr.

-or- 29 Jakairi Moses 5-9 185 Fr.

-or- 3 Quinton Baker 5-9 185 So.

-or- 5 Marquez Trigg 6-0 225 r-So.

WIDE RECEIVERS

16 Quin Jernighan 6-3 210 r-So.

23 Cameron Echols-Luper 6-0 195 Gr.

-or- 9 Xavier Lane 6-4 200 r-Fr.

1 Nacarius Fant 5-9 185 Sr.

-or- 8 Kylen Towner 5-8 175 r-Sr.

TIGHT END

19 Deon Yelder 6-4 255 r-Sr.

LEFT TACKLE

75 Jimmie Sims 6-4 295 r-Sr.

LEFT GUARD

51 Brandon Ray 6-2 300 r-Sr.

CENTER

64 Dennis Edwards 6-1 315 r-Jr.

RIGHT GUARD

74 Tyler Witt 6-2 300 r-Fr.

-or- 63 Miles Pate 6-2 320 r-So.

RIGHT TACKLE

69 Matt Nord 6-6 310 r-Sr.

KICKER

37 Ryan Nuss 5-9 200 r-Jr.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE ENDS

42 Derik Overstreet 6-2 250 Sr.

95 Heath Wiggins 6-2 265 r-So.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES

96 Julien Lewis 6-3 300 r-Jr.

3 Chris Johnson 6-1 285 Sr.

LINEBACKERS

54 Daeshawn Bertram 5-8 225 r-Sr.

-or- 25 Masai Whyte 6-0 225 r-Jr.

4 Joel Iyiegbuniwe 6-1 230 r-Jr.

NICKELBACK

15 Ta’Corian Darden 5-9 180 r-So.

CORNERBACKS

7 Joe Brown 5-10 195 Sr.

22 DeAndre Farris 5-10 190 r-Jr.

SAFETIES

9 Drell Greene 5-11 200 Jr.

2 Devon Key 6-1 205 r-Fr.

PUNTER

49 Jake Collins 6-1 210 r-Jr.

COMMODORES

OFFENSE

Ht. Wt. Yr.

QUARTERBACK

14 Kyle Shurmur 6-4 227 Jr.

RUNNING BACK

7 Ralph Webb 5-10 202 Sr.

FULLBACK

28 Dallas Rivers 6-1 225 Sr.

WIDE RECEIVERS

19 C.J. Duncan 5-11 203 r-Sr.

-or- 16 Kalija Lipscomb 6-1 200 So.

10 Trent Sherfield 6-1 205 Sr.

TIGHT END

83 Nathan Marcus 6-5 242 r-Sr.

-or- 80 Jared Pinkney 6-4 255 r-So.

LEFT TACKLE

58 Justin Skule 6-6 315 Jr.

LEFT GUARD

56 Saige Young 6-4 315 So.

CENTER

61 Bruno Reagan 6-3 310 r-Jr.

RIGHT GUARD

76 Egidio DellaRipa 6-4 300 r-Jr.

RIGHT TACKLE

77 Devin Cochran 6-7 315 r-Fr.

KICKER

17 Tommy Openshaw 6-2 200 g-Sr.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

49 Jonathan Wynn 6-4 265 r-Sr.

77 Nifae Lealao 6-5 315 Sr.

34 Dare Odeyingbo 6-2 272 Jr.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS

11 Charles Wright 6-3 240 r-Jr.

9 Caleb Peart 6-1 235 r-So.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS

4 Emmanuel Smith 6-2 235 Sr.

20 Oren Burks 6-3 230 r-Sr.

CORNERBACKS

31 Tre Herndon 6-1 188 Sr.

8 Joejuan Williams 6-3 208 So.

STRONG SAFETY

14 Ryan White 5-10 190 g-Sr.

FREE SAFETY

2 Arnold Tarpley 6-1 203 Sr.

-or- 5 LaDarius Wiley 6-1 205 r-Jr.

PUNTER

19 Sam Loy 6-1 190 So.

*Starting lineups subject to change

Position-by-position breakdown

QUARTERBACK: Western Kentucky’s Mike White threw for 371 passing yards last week against Florida Atlantic, but two interceptions proved costly in the loss. He and Vanderbilt counterpart Kyle Shurmur struck up a friendship this summer at the Manning Passing Academy. ADVANTAGE: WKU

RUNNING BACK: D’Andre Ferby (31 rushing yards per game, 3.4 yards per carry) is atop the list of possible running back starters for the Hilltoppers. WKU is the only team across the FBS without a rushing play of at least 20 yards. The Commodores’ Ralph Webb ran for three TDs last year in Vandy’s win against the Toppers. Vanderbilt

RECEIVERS: Tight end Deon Yelder has been WKU’s best receiver this year, averaging 49.9 yards per game and 12.1 yards per catch. He’s been out of practice this week though, and coach Mike Sanford didn’t elaborate on his status Thursday. If Yelder plays, WKU has the pass-catching edge. If not, that might tilt to the Commodores. Push

OFFENSIVE LINE: Hilltopper coaches shook up the team’s offensive line last week, starting Tyler Witt at right guard in place of Miles Pate. Sanford has praised the redshirt freshman Witt’s toughness. Vanderbilt allows just 1.25 sacks per game, while WKU surrenders an average of 2.88. Vanderbilt

DEFENSIVE LINE: WKU’s defensive rushing stats have declined since D-tackle Evan Sayner went down to a season-ending injury Oct. 14 against Charlotte. The Tops allowed 6.05 yards per carry during October after allowing 3.36 during September. Vanderbilt

LINEBACKERS: Outside linebacker Charles Wright is the top pass rusher in the Commodores’ 3-4 defensive scheme, having racked up six sacks this year. WKU’s Joel Iyiegbuniwe made 14 tackles against Florida Atlantic and has 63 for the year. Vanderbilt

SECONDARY: Cornerback Joe Brown and safety Devon Key lifted the Hilltoppers’ pass defense last week with their returns from injury. Nickelback Ta’Corian Darden made 13 tackles and broke up two passes. Safety LaDarius Wiley leads Vandy with 67 tackles on the season. WKU

SPECIAL TEAMS: WKU struggled last week on special teams, but the Commodores have struggled all year. Their special teams unit ranks No. 130 – dead last – according to SB Nation’s Football Study Hall. Kicker Tommy Openshaw is 1-of-5 on field goals. WKU

Brad’s picks

Mike Sanford challenges his Western Kentucky program to beat one Power Five team each season. The Hilltoppers fell flat in their first try at such a win, sputtering to a 20-7 loss in September at Illinois.

WKU should look much more competitive Saturday. The point spread had Vandy a 9 1/2-point favorite as of Friday. I expect the Hilltoppers to cover but fall a few points short.

Vanderbilt 28, Western Kentucky 22

Season record: 6-2