Middle Tennessee @ Western Kentucky: How To Watch & Preview

TV: CBS Sports Network

Radio: WKLX (SAM 100.7 FM) and WWKU (ESPN Radio 102.7 FM) in Bowling Green // WGNS 1450 AM/100.5 FM/101.9 FM – 93.3 FM/95.1 FM in Murfreesboro/Nashville

Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky

Betting Line: WKU -5.5

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

The Tops were picked to win Conference USA in the preseason. However, their on-field results have been a mixed bag. WKU started 2-0 with wins over South Florida and Houston Christian, then dropped contests to Ohio State and Troy. The loss to the Buckeyes wasn't unexpected, but the road loss to Troy was a subpar performance compared to their typical quality. 

Mistakes at inopportune times ultimately doomed WKU in that one. Notably, not being able to score a touchdown after getting inside the opposing five-yard line is not something head coach Tyson Helton wants to make a habit. 

"We would have liked to put the ball in the end zone, got down there to the 3-yard line, had a penalty and ended up having to kick a field goal – it makes a difference in the game." Helton said. "When you’re in close games, when you have those things happen to you, you’re going to have a hard time winning."

RELATED: Takeaways: Troy Takes Down Western Kentucky With Balanced Attack

WKU are still averaging 31.8 points per game, which is second in CUSA. Quarterback Austin Reed has performed, basically, as expected with 1,071 passing yards and nine touchdowns on 101-of-160 passing with one interception to start. 

Defensively, this WKU defense is boom-or-bust. One second, they're letting an opponent drive far too easily. The next, they're making a highlight-worthy play to force a turnover. WKU has 11 turnovers so far  – tied for the second-most in the country – with a defensive touchdown in both wins.

It doesn't hurt WKU's cause this week that both their wins have come at home, also.

Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

The Blue Raiders are an undesirable 1-3 to start the season. However, you can make the argument that this doesn't paint the whole picture. MTSU started with back-to-back road SEC losses, one of which was by one score. That was followed by a win over FCS Murray State, then a one-score loss to Colorado State. 

MTSU are turning around a short week to face their archrival in Western Kentucky. This is a tall task, but it goes back to something head roach Rick Stockstill said following the Colorado State loss.

"It may be the first play of the game, it may be the last play of the game," Stockstill said. You've got to play that play with exhaustion, you've got to play until you ain't got anything left in the tank and you find a way to do it again on the next play." 

In the all-time series, the Blue Raiders are just one win behind the tops. With a midweek victory against their foe two hours to the North, they'll tie things up in the series known as "100 Miles of Hate."

Offensively, MTSU are led by dual-threat quarterback Nick Vattiato. The redshirt sophomore has thrown for 916 yards on 101 completions with seven passing touchdowns, two interceptions, and 133 rushing yards. Vattiato is completing 25.25 passes per game to rank 11th nationally. He has 58 completions over the past two games.

Ideally, in this contest, MTSU would also want their defense to turn the pass defense switch they found last year. MTSU had 20 last year to rank second in FBS.