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FACTS & STATS: Site: L.T. Smith Stadium (22,113) -- Bowling Green, Kentucky. Television: ESPN3.com. Home Record: ASU 2-0, WKU 0-3. Away Record: ASU 0-2, WKU 0-0. Neutral Record: ASU 0-0, WKU 0-0. Conference Record: ASU 0-0, WKU 0-0. Series Record: Series is tied, 2-2-1.

GAME NOTES: Coming off their bye week the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will try to claim their first victory of the season when they host the Arkansas State Red Wolves in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both teams.

The Red Wolves come into this matchup with a 2-2 mark, but the team has played drastically different competition on the road. The two victories have come in Jonesboro, but away from their home field the Red Wolves have been dismantled by Illinois and Virginia Tech. This past weekend the team was home and had little trouble disposing of Central Arkansas (53-24).

The Hilltoppers were hoping to jump out to a quick start to the season with four consecutive home games, but after three games the team is still searching for that elusive first win. Western Kentucky has been embarrassed in its previous three games, falling to Kentucky, Navy and Indiana State. After losing 44-16 to the Sycamores, the Hilltoppers had a week to regroup and hopefully for coach Willie Taggart that will help the team starting this weekend.

Last year the Hilltoppers defeated Arkansas State in dramatic fashion. The 36-35 overtime decision evened the all-time series at 2-2-1.

The Red Wolves racked up 34 second-half points to pull away from Central Arkansas. The offensive outburst over the final 30 minutes of action helped Arkansas State to a 53-24 victory.

Arkansas State used a heavy dose of its rushing attack to gain an edge in that meeting, as the team churned out 375 yards on 56 carries. Quarterback Ryan Aplin led the way with 84 yards, while Derek Lawson added 74 yards on 10 totes. Andre Smith, who scored one of the three rushing touchdowns, contributed 60 yards on 11 carries.

Aplin also threw for 220 yards in the victory and finished with one touchdown and one interception. Throughout the early stages of this season, Aplin has been a bit erratic with his arm. Sure, the signal caller has thrown for 989 yards, but he has just four touchdowns against five interceptions.

With Aplin's inconsistent play, coach Hugh Freeze has relied more on the run, helping the team average 30.5 ppg. Coming into this matchup the Red Wolves are netting a robust 183.8 yards per game.

Look for the Red Wolves to continue to use the run-first approach when they face a Western Kentucky team that has been unable to stop the run.

The Red Wolves might have given up 24 points against a weak Central Arkansas squad, but the defense was never overwhelmed in the matchup. Arkansas State held their opponent to just 97 rushing yards on 3.0 yards per attempt. The defense did allow over 200 yards passing and two touchdowns through the air, but that was largely due to a large lead and Central Arkansas playing catch up.

Coach Freeze can live with those numbers as long as the defense can continue to shut down opponents on the ground. Through four games, ASU is allowing just 129.0 ypg on only 3.2 yards per carry. The front line will certainly be tested this weekend with WKU's Bobby Rainey coming to town.

The Hilltoppers have not enjoyed much success offensively, averaging just 11.0 ppg, but the little excitement this offense has given its fan has come from Rainey.

Last year Rainey took over the Sun Belt and the nation by rushing for 1,649 yards and 15 touchdowns. The senior has picked up where he left off and already has 347 rushing yards thus far, to go along with two touchdowns.

In the recent loss to Indiana State, Rainey was actually limited to a certain extent, as the tailback finished with just 105 yards on 23 carries. The team only finished with 14 points and both scores came from quarterback Kawaun Jakes, who finished with 237 yards on 23-of-30 passing.

It was the best game of the season for Jakes, who has thrown six interceptions in three games. Clearly this offense is predicated on the run, so look for Rainey to have a big showing in the conference opener.

So far the Hilltoppers are surrendering 32.7 ppg, so clearly it is not just the lack of offense keeping the team in the loss column.

WKU has struggled mightily against the run, as teams are abusing Western Kentucky for 237.3 rushing yards per matchup. That is not overly surprising when considering the defense for WKU has allowed more than 150.0 ypg in each of the last three seasons.

In the loss to Indiana State, the Sycamores gashed Western Kentucky for 209 yards and two touchdowns. To make matters worse the Hilltoppers were also torched through the air, surrendering 227 yards and three more scores.

Neither team has performed well against the run, so expect the Red Wolves and Hilltoppers to rely on their respective rushing attacks. While ASU uses a number of tailbacks, the Hilltoppers use one and he is good enough to lead Western Kentucky to its first win.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Western Kentucky 34, Arkansas State 31