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FACTS & STATS: Site: Rynearson Stadium (30,200) -- Ypsilanti, Michigan. Television: None. Home Record: WMU 3-0, EMU 3-0. Away Record: WMU 1-3, EMU 1-3. Neutral Record: WMU 0-0, EMU 0-0. Conference Record: WMU 2-1, EMU 2-1. Series Record: Western Michigan leads, 29-15-2.

GAME NOTES: Eastern Michigan will try to remain perfect at home when the Eagles host the Western Michigan Broncos this Saturday afternoon in Mid-American Conference action at Rynearson Stadium.

The Broncos suffered their first league loss of the season this past weekend, as they were defeated by Northern Illinois, 51-22. The Broncos are a different team on the road, as all three losses for Western Michigan have come outside of Kalamazoo.

As for the Eagles, they are coming off their first road win of the year and it was a big one, as they narrowly slipped past Central Michigan, 35-28. It was the fourth win on the year for Eastern Michigan, which is a flawless 3-0 at home. The Eagles have allowed just 39 points in their three matchups in Ypsilanti and seem much more comfortable in front of a home crowd.

The Broncos have dominated Eastern Michigan in this series and lead the Eagles by a 29-15-2 margin. Western Michigan has won the last three showdowns, including a 45-10 decision in the last matchup.

MAC teams are relying more on the ground game than the passing attack, but that has not been the case for Western Michigan, which will go only as far as quarterback Alex Carder will take it.

Carder could be the best signal caller in the conference and heads into this weekend with 16 touchdowns and only six interceptions. So far Carder has completed 67.7 percent of his passes and already has 1,872 passing yards.

Jordan White is far and away the team's top receiver and comes into this weekend leading the squad with 79 receptions, 922 yards and seven touchdowns.

The ground game has been mediocre at best, as the team is averaging 126.3 yards per game. The team does not possess a go-to back, but instead there are a couple of speedsters that get the majority of looks. Tevin Drake is leading the way with 339 yards, while Brian Fields has put up 233 yards.

The rushing attack did not find much success in the loss to Northern Illinois, as the Broncos finished with just 91 yards on 31 carries. Because of that the game fell on the shoulders of Carder, who threw for 194 yards and one touchdown. However, he was intercepted once and sacked four times.

While Western Michigan's rushing attack was unable to find any room, the defense for the Broncos gave plenty of space for Northern Illinois to roam, and they did just that, punishing WMU for 494 yards and six touchdowns.

This has been the biggest issue for this defense throughout the season, so it is not surprising that an elite rushing team like NIU was able to rack up the yards. Through seven games the Broncos have already surrendered 13 touchdowns, and are allowing 217.3 yards per game.

Creating big plays has been another character flaw for this unit and even though the team has 36 TFLs, the defense has racked up just 11 sacks and 11 takeaways.

Freddie Bishop is leading the team in both TFLs (7.5) and sacks (four), while Mitch Zajac is pacing the squad with 56 tackles.

Western Michigan's inability to stop the run should play right into the hands of the Eagles, who are primarily a ground-oriented squad. Eastern Michigan has punished opponents with a heavy dose of the run and comes into this weekend averaging 229.1 yards per game to go along with 14 touchdowns on the ground.

There is more than one back opponents need to worry about, as Eastern Michigan has a dangerous tandem in Javonti Greene and Dominique White. Greene has rushed for 476 yards and four touchdowns, while White is at 434 yards and five scores. Even quarterback Alex Gillett is a threat on the ground, as he comes into this game with 409 yards and three touchdowns. Because the team is predominately centered around the run, Gillett has not been called upon to throw much. That might be a good thing since he has completed just 53.4 percent of his throws and has just four touchdowns against five interceptions.

In the team's recent win over Central Michigan, the offense for the Eagles totaled 58 offensive plays, and 50 of those plays were runs. That led to 350 yards and five touchdowns and more importantly, a win.

White led the way with 161 yards and a touchdown, while Greene found the end zone three times and finished with 96 yards. As for Gillett, who rumbled for 93 yards and also scored on the ground.

The offense needs to be at its best every week. The more success the team has running the football means less time the defense will have to be on the field, which is definitely good considering Eastern Michigan has struggled on that side of the ball.

The biggest problem has come against the pass, as opponents are averaging torching 230.9 ypg and have already thrown for 16 touchdowns. Even though the Eagles defeated Central Michigan, the defense did not make it easy, as the Chippewas finished with 351 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Marcell Rose did collect an interception, but that was only the fourth on the year for the team and just the 10th takeaway overall.

Everything points to an EMU win at home here. However, Carder's ability to make plays under center for WMU should be the difference in the Broncos getting a much needed road win.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Western Michigan 41, Eastern Michigan 31