Teams that have defeated Marshall this season have forced the Thundering Herd into turnovers.

Marshall (6-3 overall, 3-2 Conference USA) has committed a combined nine turnovers in losses to North Carolina State, Florida International and Florida Atlantic. The Owls forced Herd quarterback Chase Litton into four interceptions last week in a 30-25 FAU win.

Marshall, meanwhile, has turned the ball over a combined six times in its six wins against Miami (Ohio), Kent State, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Old Dominion and Middle Tennessee.

Making the Thundering Herd’s offense make mistakes is a key challenge for Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers (5-4, 3-2) will meet Marshall at 5:30 p.m. CST Saturday. BeIN Sports will carry the broadcast from Huntington, W.Va.

“You know that they’re emphasizing that, Chase Litton taking care of the football,” WKU coach Mike Sanford said. “Seven turnovers the last two weeks seems like that’s uncharacteristic for them.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to get some balls in our hands defensively. We’ve got to do that against a team that’s trended the last two weeks in terms of turning the ball over.”

The Toppers’ defense ranks No. 80 nationally with 12 forced turnovers this season. WKU has recovered three fumbles and come up with nine interceptions – cornerback Joe Brown and safety Drell Greene share the team lead with two INTs each.

The Hilltoppers recovered one fumble last week in a 31-17 loss at Vanderbilt. WKU hasn’t forced multiple turnovers in a game since intercepting Old Dominion quarterback Steven Williams three times Oct. 20 in a 35-31 Tops road win – the team’s last victory before back-to-back losses the last two weeks against FAU and Vandy.

“I think our defense is up to the task of trying to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands, out of running backs’ hands, receivers’ hands,” Sanford said. “ … That’s obviously a big story line in the game.”

Litton has started all nine games this season for Marshall, completing 60.1 percent of his passes for 240.7 yards per game. He’s thrown 18 touchdown passes against nine interceptions.

The Thundering Herd’s top offensive target is wide receiver Tyre Brady. He has 55 catches this season, averaging 86.2 yards per game and 14.1 yards per catch, and has hauled in seven TD receptions.

“He’s got elite speed,” Sanford said of the 6-foot-3 receiver from Homestead, Fla. “He’s got length, athleticism, speed and he’s a guy you’ve got to account for. …

“They like to dial up some shot plays for them, as they should. When the ball’s pushed vertically downfield to him, he makes unbelievable catches.”

Putting some pressure on Litton so he can’t make those deep passes to Brady will be a key for the Hilltoppers.

That’s an area where WKU has struggled this year, ranking all the way down at No. 128 nationally with 0.78 sacks per game. Marshall’s offense, on the other hand, ranks No. 2 across the FBS in sacks allowed, surrendering just 0.44 per game.

“A rattled quarterback, that means they can’t perform what they’d like to do,” defensive tackle Chris Johnson said. “So if we keep him rattled we should be able to control this game.”

Marshall’s offense also features a balanced ground attack between Tyler King (80 rushing yards per game) and Keion Davis (62 ypg).

WKU has struggled stopping the run lately, allowing a running back from each of its last four opponents to gain at least 100 yards on the ground.

“Their running backs are really good, explosive,” defensive coordinator Clayton White said. “It’s a good ball club.”{&end}