This is a matchup between the Sun Belt #1 Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers and #2 Louisiana-Monroe University Warhawks.
Western Kentucky enters this game at 5-1 on the season with the only blemish being a 35-0 loss to the #1 Alabama Crimson Tide. The Hilltoppers have won 12 of their last 14 games dating back to last season with both losses coming to the #1 team in the nation (LSU in '11). WKU is on a 9-game conference winning streak that is good for second longest in the nation behind Northern Illinois. The Hilltoppers are led on offense by running back Antonio Andrews who is 27th nationally rushing the ball with 655 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season. The WKU offense ranked 16th nationally is led by linebackers Andrew Jackson and Xavius Boyd who have combined for 95 tackles, 10 for loss and a defense that has sacked the quarterback 18 times on the season led by Quantarus Smith's 6.5 sacks on the year. After a dreadful season in 2011 kicking the ball, the Hilltoppers are a more respectable 4-7 kicking this fall although no kick has been longer than 27 yards. WKU is led by head coach Willie Taggart who enters this game with a 14-16 overall head coaching record but is 12-6 since the beginning of the 2011 season.
Louisiana-Monroe enters this game at 4-2 on the season with the only blemishes coming from AQ Schools Auburn and Baylor by a combined 8 points. The Warhawks have already totaled the 4 wins from last season's 4-8 campaign that saw ULM lose 4 of their final 6 games. The Warhawks are led on offense by do everything quarterback Kolton Browning who has thrown for 1606 yards and 14 touchdowns compared to only 3 interceptions on the year. Browning has also ran for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns so far this year. The Warhawks do not get to the passer as well as WKU with only 10 sacks on the season but have a more spread out defense that includes eight players with 20 or more tackles on the season led by RJ Young's 42 tackles. The ULM kicking game is nearly non-existent going only 1-3 on attempts for the year. The Warhawks have attempted 14 4th-down conversions on the year. The Warhawks are led by head coach Todd Berry who counts ULM as his third head coaching job of his career. Berry went 24-24 at FCS' Illinois State before heading to Army where he went 5-35 in 3+ seasons on the job. This is Berry's 3rd season at ULM and he has gone 5-7 and 4-8 in the previous two years on the job.
This is one of the most anticipated Non-AQ games of the season with the teams entering with a combined 9-3 record and wins over SEC opponents.
How WKU will win: 1. The Hilltoppers must control the time of possession battle significantly giving the defense long rests in between series. The up-tempo offense of the Warhawks will wear down the Hilltoppers late in the game if the offense does not put together some long second half drives. 2. Keep Browning in the pocket. That is easier said than done with the athleticism of Browning but he is a better quarterback when forced to move and improvise finding the defense out of position as he keeps plays alive. Keeping him in the pocket will also negate the ability of Browning to gain first downs with his feet. 3. Do not turn the ball over. When WKU has played poorly (Alabama, Troy), the common refrain of turning the ball over, especially fumbles, has been the major culprit. The Hilltoppers turned the ball over 6 times in those two games.
How ULM will win: 1. Stop the run. Again, easier said than done but WKU's offense is predicated on getting 4-5 yards on first down with a running play to open up more of their playbook, especially play action passing. If ULM can stop the run on first down and force a 2nd-and-8 or worse, then WKU is out of their comfort area and are not as strong. 2. Keep the pace going. Kentucky nearly came back versus WKU by running an up tempo offense that eventually wore down the WKU defense with the Hilltopper defense running on fumes in the 4th quarter. ULM must find their inner Oregon and keep the game going quickly. 3. Force WKU to kick field goals. The kicking situation at WKU is better than in 2011 but with a team that has not made a kick over 27 yards, ULM will be looking good if they can stop the Hilltoppers in the red zone and force field goal attempts.
Prediction: With both teams playing some very talented teams this season and looking like two of the best Non-AQ teams in the nation, this game could easily swing either way. WKU has seen offenses similar (but not as effective) to the ULM attack but ULM has not seen an offense like WKU's since last year's meeting. Expect WKU to run the ball early effectively with some deep pass attempts and control the time of possession in pulling out a hard fought win on a defensive stop in the final minutes. WKU 33-27.
WKU
|
Ranking
|
ULM
|
Ranking
|
|
Rushing Offense
|
196 ypg.
|
36th
|
197 ypg.
|
34th
|
Passing Offense
|
209 ypg.
|
83rd
|
288 ypg.
|
28th
|
Total Offense
|
405 ypg.
|
64th
|
485 ypg.
|
19th
|
Pass Efficiency
|
159.20 Rating
|
17th
|
135.11 Rating
|
57th
|
Turnover Margin
|
-1
|
69th
|
7
|
14th
|
First Downs
|
21.67
|
52nd
|
26.67
|
12th
|
3rd Down %
|
50%
|
15th
|
50%
|
15th
|
4th Down %
|
50%
|
57th
|
78%
|
12th
|
Red Zone Offense
|
85% Score
|
46th
|
78% Score
|
81st
|
Time of Poss.
|
33:31
|
--
|
33:21
|
--
|
Scoring Offense
|
30.00 ppg.
|
55th
|
38.83 ppg.
|
22nd
|
Penalties
|
64.50 ypg.
|
90th
|
42.83 ypg.
|
29th
|
Rush Defense
|
116.17 ypg.
|
29th
|
104.33 ypg.
|
18th
|
Pass Defense
|
118.50 ypg.
|
20th
|
247.16 ypg.
|
80th
|
Total Defense
|
304.67 ypg.
|
16th
|
251.50 ypg
|
36th
|
1st Downs Allowed
|
18.67
|
38th
|
19.33
|
50th
|
Tackles For Loss
|
46
|
16th
|
30
|
90th
|
3rd Down Defense
|
36%
|
54th
|
38%
|
69th
|
4th Down Defense
|
30%
|
28th
|
80%
|
113th
|
Red Zone Defense
|
75% Score
|
30th
|
78% Score
|
46th
|
Scoring Defense
|
22.00 ppg.
|
37th
|
25.00 ppg.
|
55th
|
Punt Returns
|
12.70 ypr.
|
25th
|
7.17 ypr.
|
75th
|
Kick Returns
|
22.39 ypr.
|
50th
|
18.40 ypg.
|
99th
|
Punt Coverage
|
13.78 ypr.
|
111th
|
5.63 ypr.
|
35th
|
Kick Coverage
|
22.59 ypr.
|
85th
|
19.65 ypr.
|
36th
|
Punting
|
42.30 ypp.
|
--
|
37.80 ypp.
|
--
|
ULM Depth Chart:
Offense
QB:
15 Kolton Browning (6-1, 194, Jr., Mabank, Texas)
14 Cody Wells (5-11, 196, Sr., Hoover, Ala.)
RB:
7 Jyruss Edwards (5-11, 200, Jr., White Castle, La.)
2 Monterrell Washington (5-10, 205, Jr., Bryan, Texas)
WR:
86 Je’Ron Hamm (6-3, 222, Jr., Leesville, La.)
85 Tony Cook (6-4, 180, Fr., DeSoto, Texas)
WR:
18 Brent Leonard (6-2, 186, Sr., Keller, Texas)
19 Tyler Cain (5-8, 189, So., West Monroe, La.)
WR:
13 Colby Harper (6-0, 180, So, Wylie, Texas)
19 Tyler Cain (5-8, 189, So., West Monroe, La.)
WR:
8 Tavarese Maye (6-0, 179, Jr., Petal, Miss.)
81 Rashon Ceasar (5-11, 182, R-Fr., Clinton, La.)
TE:
80 Keavon Milton (6-4, 293, Sr., Canton, Texas)
88 Harley Scioneaux (6-5, 238, R-Fr., Reserve, La.)
LT:
65 Joseph Treadwell (6-5, 312, So., Pine Bluf , Ark.)
67 Jeremy Burton (6-2, 317, So., Muskogee, Okla.)
LG:
78 Jon Fisher (6-3, 301, Jr., Oxford, Miss.)
77 Ben Risenhoover (6-2, 286, So., Jenks, Okla.)
C:
66 Josh Allen (6-3, 302, Jr., Cedar Hill, Texas)
68 Colby Mitchell (6-1, 278, R-Fr., Douglasville, Ga.)
RG:
56 Jonathan Gill (6-3, 291, Sr., South Grand Prairie, Texas)
58 Elliot Hilliard (6-3, 266, So., Killeen, Texas)
RT:
75 Demiere Burkett (6-2, 296, So., Balch Springs, Texas)
73 Jamal Danley (6-2, 287, Fr., Olive Branch, Miss.)
Defense
DE:
98 Malcolm Edmond (6-1, 272, Jr., Texarkana, Texas)
90 Emanuel Jef eries (6-3, 281, Jr., Jackson, Miss.)
NT:
76 Gerrand Johnson (6-0, 292, R-Fr., Rayville, La.)
59 John Nard (6-0, 281, So., Shreveport, La.)
DE:
99 Joey Gautney (6-1, 240, So., Whitehouse, Texas)
95 Darius Lively (6-3, 245, So., Lancaster, Texas)
LB:
45 DaCorris Ford (6-1, 223, Sr., Longview, Texas)
34 Michael Johnson (6-1, 218, R-Fr., Maumelle, Ark.)
LB:
51 R.J. Young (5-11, 240, Sr., DeSoto, Texas)
48 Hunter Kissinger (6-2, 224, RFr., Springdale, Ark.)
LB:
39 Ray Stovall (6-2, 230, R-So., Tulsa, Okla.)
36 Cody Robinson (6-0, 215, R-Fr., Des Arc, Ark.)
CB:
4 Rob’Donovan Lewis (5-10, 175, So., Jonesboro, La.)
9 Otis Peterson (5-11, 163, Jr., Belle Chasse, La.)
S:
10 Cordero Smith (5-11, 190, So., Garland, Texas)
31 Henry Mitchell (5-11, 189, Sr., Douglasville, Ga.)
H:
38 Mitch Lane (6-0, 208, R-Fr., Pine Bluf , Ark.)
42 Roland Veal (6-1, 194, R-So., Houston, Texas)
S:
25 Isaiah Newsome (5-11, 201, Jr., Petal, Miss.)
37 Preston Coleman (5-8, 168, Jr., Bastrop, La.)
CB:
24 Vincent Eddie (5-8, 161, Jr., DeSoto, Texas)
33 Trey Caldwell (5-9, 180, Fr., Richardson, Texas)
WKU Depth Chart:
OFFENSE (West Coast)
QB:
6 Kawaun Jakes 6-3 194 Sr. St. Augustine, Fla.
13 James Mauro 6-7 227 R-Fr. Hurst, Texas
RB:
5 Antonio Andrews 6-0 211 Jr. Fort Campbell, Ky.
33 Leon Allen 6-0 235 Fr. Bradenton, Fla.
FB:
32 Kadeem Jones 5-11 246 Jr. Dundee, Fla.
35 Demetrius Coley 6-2 244 Jr. Bay Minette, Ala.
WR:
9 Marcus Vasquez 6-1 196 Sr. Chula Vista, Calif.
2 Boe Brand 6-0 156 So. Bradenton, Fla.
WR:
10 Willie McNeal 5-10 163 So. Bradenton, Fla.
85 Austin Aikens 5-11 180 Fr. Tampa, Fla.
WR:
4 Rico Brown 5-11 185 So. Berea, Ky.
47 Neil Wilson 6-2 195 Jr. Tompkinsville, Ky.
TE:
82 Jack Doyle 6-6 253 Sr. Indianapolis, Ind.
88 Ryan Wallace 6-5 254 Sr. Bowling Green, Ky.
LT:
52 Cameron Clemmons 6-6 305 So. Mt. Juliet, Tenn.
79 Delryn Wilson 6-3 308 R-Fr. Tampa, Fla.
LG:
63 Luis Polanco 6-2 295 Jr. Tampa, Fla.
77 Forrest Lamp 6-4 286 Fr. Venice, Fla.
C:
65 Sean Conway 6-3 305 Jr. Nashville, Tenn.
69 Luke Stansfi eld 6-4 290 Sr. Franklin, Tenn.
RG:
76 Adam Smith 6-5 325 Sr. Murfreesboro, Tenn.
68 Cliff Burns 6-8 332 Sr. Kokomo, Ind.
RT:
75 Seth White 6-5 291 Sr. Nashville, Tenn.
60 Ed Hazelett 6-8 318 Jr. Indianapolis, Ind.
DEFENSE (4-3)
DE:
45 Cole Tischer 6-4 250 Sr. Brentwood, Tenn.
91 Calvin Washington 6-5 264 Jr. Charlottesville, Va.
DT:
43 Jamarcus Allen 5-11 286 Sr. Orlando, Fla.
94 Bryan Shorter 6-2 274 R-Fr. Phenix City, Ala.
DT:
96 Rammell Lewis 6-2 299 Sr. Grayson, Ga.
95 Kenny Martin 6-0 289 Sr. Orlando, Fla.
DE:
93 Quanterus Smith 6-5 249 Sr. Loganville, Ga.
88 Gavin Rocker 6-2 230 R-Fr. Tyrone, Ga.
SLB:
12 Tye Golden 6-2 234 Sr. Lithonia, Ga.
40 Bar’ee Boyd 6-1 227 Jr. St. Petersburg, Fla.
MLB:
4 Andrew Jackson 6-1 265 Jr. Lakeland, Fla.
17 Daqual Randall 6-0 245 Fr. Palmetto, Fla.
WLB:
13 Xavius Boyd 6-2 235 Jr. St. Petersburg, Fla.
31 Terran Williams 6-2 222 So. Bradenton, Fla.
CB:
22 Tyree Robinson 5-10 196 Jr. Dundee, Fla.
19 Cam Thomas 6-1 190 So. Middletown, Del.
SS:
29 Kiante Young 5-11 220 Jr. Gainesville, Ga.
37 Vince Williams 5-9 198 Jr. Alpharetta, Ga.
FS:
1 Jonathan Dowling 6-3 198 So. Bradenton, Fla.
14 Kareem Peterson 5-11 186 Sr. Lewisburg, Tenn.
CB:
21 Arius Wright 5-10 189 Jr. Duluth, Ga.
26 Brett Harrington 6-0 180 Jr. Rochester, N.Y.
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