Western Kentucky’s coaches expect Middle Tennessee’s defense to bring pressure Friday on almost every down.

Neutralizing that pass rush will be a key Friday for the Hilltoppers (5-5 overall, 3-3 Conference USA) when they take on the Blue Raiders (5-5, 3-3). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Houchens-Smith Stadium, with the game broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

“Defensively they wreak havoc,” WKU coach Mike Sanford said Wednesday after practice.

“They blitz every play, just about, up and down the field with six, seven, eight-man pressures. …

“You’ve got to have answers for it.”

MTSU’s defense is coordinated by Scott Shafer, and Sanford is familiar with his blitzing tendencies. The two worked together in 2007 at Stanford, when Sanford was an offensive graduate assistant and Shafer the associate head coach and defensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh.

The Cardinal went just 4-8 that season but pulled off an upset of No. 1 Southern California, a victory that launched the program toward the success it’s had during the past decade. Stanford was a 41-point underdog that Oct. 6, 2007, afternoon in Los Angeles and won 24-23.

Sanford called Shafer “very largely responsible for the greatest upset in college football history.” He said his current defenses like to bring “extreme overload pressure to one side.”

“That’s his personality – hair’s on fire all the time, always looking for tackles for loss, sacks,” Sanford said.

For all its blitzing, Middle Tennessee ranks just 68th nationally in sacks per game, averaging two. Linebacker Khalil Brooks is the Blue Raiders’ top pass rusher with 6½ sacks and also has a team-best 13 tackles for loss.

WKU, meanwhile, allows 3.2 sacks per game, which ranks 121st-worst nationally among 130 FBS teams. Marshall sacked WKU quarterback Mike White three times in the Thundering Herd’s 30-23 win Saturday, one week after Vanderbilt combined to sack White and backup Drew Eckels six times.

“We have to protect our quarterback, keep him clean, pitch-and-catch, try to get the ball out quick when we’re in those situations,” offensive coordinator Junior Adams said. “Utilize our tight ends to be able to protect and create some mismatches.”

Short-week preparations

The practice schedule is condensed this week due to the game taking place on a Friday. WKU went through its typical Tuesday practice Monday, then conducted its usual “Workday Wednesday” practice Tuesday.

Wednesday was home to the “No Sweat Thursday” walk-through, while the Hilltoppers will conduct their “Fast Friday,” a sped-up walk-through, a day ahead of schedule Thursday.

This is the second time this season WKU has shortened its practice week due to a game being moved to Friday night. The Tops went through the same routine before going to Old Dominion on Oct. 20 and pulling off a 35-31 win in a game moved to a Friday for the CBS Sports Network.

They’ll do the same next week, with the regular-season finale at Florida International taking place the day after Thanksgiving in Miami. That game was moved from a Saturday to a Friday for BeIN Sports’ broadcast purposes.

“I actually like our short-week schedule and what we do,” Sanford said. “… As a coach, from a game-planning standpoint you grind it out pretty good Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. But once you get back on schedule you feel like you’re ready to go. I feel like that’s exactly where we’re at now.”

Holt coming off strong performances

Linebacker Ben Holt has put together his two most productive games of the season the last two weeks. The redshirt sophomore tied a career high with seven tackles in a 31-17 loss Nov. 4 at Vanderbilt, then posted another six tackles Saturday at Marshall.

Holt tallied the first solo sack of his career in the loss to the Herd. The Bowling Green High School graduate has 22 tackles in nine games this year for WKU.

“Ben’s getting his confidence,” defensive coordinator Clayton White said. “He’s practicing better, having better meetings with (linebackers coach Maurice Crum).

“He’s still a young player, but I do believe that Ben has an unbelievable instinct for the game. He’s going to run to the ball and he’s going to hit, going to tackle. It was the details that were holding him back a little bit, but it’s exciting watching him flourish and make plays. The look in his eyes is very different and it’s exciting as a coach.”{&end}