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FACTS & STATS: Site: Malone Stadium (30,427) -- Monroe, Louisiana. Television: None. Home Record: Western Kentucky 1-3, ULM 1-1. Away Record: Western Kentucky 2-0, ULM 1-4. Neutral Record: Western Kentucky 0-1, ULM 0-0. Conference Record: Western Kentucky 3-1, ULM 1-2. Series Record: Series is tied, 3-3.

GAME NOTES: Western Kentucky takes aim at its first four-game win streak since 2005, as it hits the road to take on ULM in Sun Belt Conference action.

Western Kentucky's three game in-conference win streak came after an 0-4 start to the season. The Hilltoppers are near the top of the league after defeating Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic on the road, and Louisiana at home to snap an 18-game home losing streak.

ULM hopes that a return to its home field will help it bounce back after losing 38-21 at North Texas last week. ULM had a difficult schedule to start the season as it lost to Florida State, TCU and Iowa in non-league play. The Warhawks' additional conference loss came in a close game against conference leader Arkansas State. ULM's victories came over Grambling State and Troy.

This bout marks the seventh meeting between these two teams, and the series is currently knotted at 3-3. In 2010, ULM beat WKU, 35-30, after outscoring the Hilltoppers, 28-6, in the fourth quarter to steal the victory.

Western Kentucky's offense features one of the best running backs in the country in Bobby Rainey. The senior tailback leads the SBC and ranks third nationally in average yards per game. In last week's victory over Louisiana, Rainey churned out a season-best 237 yards of total offense with three rushing touchdowns. He will try to go past the 1,000-yard mark on the year as he is sitting at 910 yards coming into this contest. WKU's rushing offense is ranked second in the conference, and will be challenged by ULM's league-best rush defense.

The Hilltoppers' passing game was at its best last week as well, as Kawaun Jakes was highly efficient in hitting 15-of-18 passes for a season-best 242 yards. One of the reasons for Jakes's success was tight end Jack Doyle. The junior tight end caught seven passes as he eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second time this season with 106 yards versus Louisiana

Despite holding the Ragin' Cajuns to 23 points, the Hilltoppers allowed 540 yards of total offense last week. The previous week in its 20-0 shutout win at Florida Atlantic, Western Kentucky allowed only 121 yards of total offense. Louisiana had a much more potent offense than ULM, so the defense should perform better, but it has allowed opponents greater than 400 yards in five of its seven games. Linebacker Andrew Jackson leads the Sun Belt in tackles with 74 (11th-best nationally).

ULM's offense looked shaky against a weak North Texas defense last week. Kolton Browning was lackluster at best against the Mean Green, completing 15- of-32 passes for 187 yards after winning conference player of the week honors for his previous outing against Troy in which he passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Browning will look to his two favorite targets, Brent Leonard and Tavarese Maye. Leonard leads the team with 46 receptions for 480 yards, while Maye is close behind with 35 grabs for 455 yards.

The two-headed rushing attack for ULM continued against North Texas, as Centarius Donald paced the team with 84 yards on 11 carries, and Jyruss Edwards struggled in gaining just 15 yards on six totes. The balanced ground attack could give Western Kentucky trouble as the Hilltoppers have found stopping the run a challenge this year -- case in point, the 410 rushing yards allowed to Navy.

ULM's defense made UNT's struggling quarterback Derek Thompson look like a Heisman candidate last week as he threw for 332 yards and three touchdowns. The defensive unit also allowed the Mean Green's Lance Dunbar to rush for 139 yards, as North Texas cranked out 459 yards of total offense. ULM's poor defensive effort came just a week after the team held Troy to just 129 yards of total offense.

ULM still leads the Sun Belt in rushing defense, which is crucial as it faces the conference's best runner. Jason Edwards leads the defense with 58 tackles and Darius Prelow's three interceptions is tied for best in the Sun Belt.

The Hilltoppers have momentum on their side heading into this one, and they still have a sour taste in their mouths after blowing a big fourth-quarter lead to ULM last year. The Warhawks need to erase the North Texas game from their memory and play like they did against Troy to stop Western Kentucky. ULM's top-ranked rushing defense is capable of slowing Rainey down, but after Dunbar's performance last week, it is not likely.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Western Kentucky 34, ULM, 27