Louisiana Tech (8-4 overall, 6-2 Conference USA) at WKU (9-3, 7-1)

11 a.m. Saturday

Houchens-Smith Stadium

Bowling Green

Television: ESPN

Radio: WPTQ-105.3 FM, WWKU-1450 AM

Position by position breakdown

QUARTERBACK: Western Kentucky quarterback Mike White has completed 67.3 percent of his passes this year for an average of 300.5 yards per game with 31 touchdowns against five interceptions. Louisiana Tech QB Ryan Higgins is completing 66.4 percent of his throws for an average of 336.9 ypg with 34 TDs against seven INTs. ADVANTAGE: WKU

RUNNING BACK: Hilltoppers running back Anthony “Ace” Wales (106.1 yards per game, 7.0 yards per carry) has scored 21 touchdowns this season, which ranks third nationally. Bulldogs running back Jarred Craft (83.1 ypg, 5.9 ypc) has accounted for 12 TDs this season. WKU

RECEIVERS: WKU’s Taywan Taylor (116.0 yards per game, 17.0 yards per catch, 14 TDs) and Nicholas Norris (91.9 ypg, 16.5 ypc, 13 TDs) are one of the nation’s most explosive wide receiver duos. La Tech’s Trent Taylor (121.8 ypg, 12.9 ypc, 10 TDs) and Carlos Henderson (109.5 ypg, 19.1 ypc, 16 TDs) are just as good. PUSH

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Toppers’ offensive line has paved the way for 7.51 yards per play this season, which ranks No. 2 in the nation behind only the Bulldogs’ 7.68. The WKU front five was named this week by Pro Football Focus as the fourth-best in all of college football, with Forrest Lamp grading out as the third-best tackle in the nation. WKU

DEFENSIVE LINE: The Hilltopper defensive line has played a key role this season in WKU limiting opponents to 3.19 yards per carry – the sixth best total in the nation. Louisiana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson is third in the nation with 14.5 sacks and has also forced four fumbles, tied for ninth-most in the nation. La Tech

LINEBACKERS: Linebacker Keith Brown leads the Tops with 116 tackles, 53 of which have been solo. The Louisville graduate transfer’s 116 tackles rank No. 2 in Conference USA. Linebacker Jordan Harris has a team-best 94 tackles for the Bulldogs. WKU

SECONDARY: WKU’s secondary was torched Oct. 6 by La Tech but only allowed 4.6 yards per pass attempt in November, the second-best figure in the nation. Bulldogs safety Xavier Woods has totaled 77 tackles, three sacks, five interceptions and six pass breakups. La Tech

SPECIAL TEAMS: WKU’s Kylen Towner was named C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after a 93-yard kickoff return TD last week at Marshall. Bowling Green native Nacarius Fant, whose 15.64 yards per punt return rank No. 5 nationally, is out for the rest of the season due to a knee injury. WKU

Brad’s picks

This promises to be a fun one.

Two teams that lead the nation in yards per play and that combined for 107 points in their first meeting get together with a title on the line.

Both offenses will score their share of points. But Western Kentucky’s defense has improved since the first meeting and will get enough stops to make the difference.

Western Kentucky 40, Louisiana Tech 28

Season record: 9-3