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FACTS & STATS: Site: Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium (22,113) -- Bowling Green, Kentucky. Television: None. Home Record: FIU 3-2, WKU 1-3. Away Record: FIU 2-1, WKU 3-0. Neutral Record: FIU 0-0, WKU 0-1. Conference Record: FIU 2-2, WKU 4-1. Series Record: FIU leads, 4-2.

GAME NOTES: The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers will try to extend their four- game win streak as they play host to the Panthers of FIU in a Sun Belt Conference clash this Saturday. Both squads sit in the top-four in the conference and are in the thick of the race for the Sun Belt title. Both teams are also coming off overtime victories in their most recent outing.

FIU narrowly escaped with a victory against Troy last time out, as the Panthers won 23-20 in overtime after Jack Griffin made a 22-yard field goal to seal the deal. FIU started the year by winning its first three games, but then fell off pace with losses to Louisiana and Duke. A win this week would set FIU up very nicely for the final stretch of the season. Mario Cristobal's Panthers have won two of its last three games to improve to 5-3 overall and an even 2-2 in conference.

Western Kentucky's four-game win streak is the first since 2005 when the program was a FCS member. The Hilltoppers started the season with four straight losses, three of which came at home. WKU's turnaround has the team sitting near the top of the SBC standings. The four-game win streak has come against conference foes.

FIU leads all-time series between the two programs, 4-2, with the Panthers winning four straight. In 2010, FIU held off WKU in Miami as the Hilltoppers fell in a 28-21 final. Kawaun Jakes threw for 197 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, while his counterpart Wes Carroll passed for 108 yards with an interception.

FIU's offense revolves around star receiver T.Y. Hilton. The senior wideout is the Sun Belt's all-time leader in receiving yards and all-purpose yards. His ability to torch opposing defenses is undeniable as he leads the conference in receiving yards per game.

Carroll has been lucky not only to have Hilton, but also Wayne Times. With so much attention being put on Hilton, Times has had a great season thus far and is coming off a career-best 97-receiving yard performance against Troy. Carroll is also lucky to have a steady offensive line as FIU has allowed the second-fewest sacks per game in the conference this season.

The Panthers' rushing offense averages 154.8 ypg and is led by Kedrick Rhodes. The sophomore running back carried the ball 30 times for a career-high 172 yards in the overtime victory over Troy. Darriet Perry also plays an important role in the rushing game as a secondary running back.

FIU has one of the most-feared defensive lines in the conference as the Panthers are tied for the Sun Belt lead in sacks with 2.75 per game. The defense is second-best in scoring defense allowing just 22.6 ppg. Linebacker Winston Fraser leads the team with 77 tackles and had an outstanding game against Arkansas State with 17 tackles.

Western Kentucky has a standout offensive performer of its own in Bobby Rainey. The senior tailback eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark last week in the win over ULM and is currently ranked first in the conference and sixth in the nation in yards per game. Rainey has rushed for over 100 yards in every game this season with the exception of the Hilltoppers' last loss, which was to Arkansas State. During its current win streak, WKU is averaging 32.3 ppg.

Jakes has been the leader of the offense all season as he has thrown for 1,227 yards, seven touchdowns and ten interceptions (four of which came against Kentucky in the season opener). Jakes had a season-best 242 passing yards against Louisiana. Tight end Jack Doyle has amassed 32 receptions for 320 yards this season.

The Hilltopper defense is tied for the SBC lead in sacks with FIU, as junior defensive lineman Quantarius Smith has logged a league-best seven QB takedowns to this point. Andrew Jackson paces the conference with 81 tackles, which ranks 19th-best in the nation. Western Kentucky's defense has struggled to slow down opponents in recent weeks, with Louisiana gaining 540 total yards and ULM churning out 456 yards.

This game is going to have an impact on the outcome of this Sun Belt Conference race. Western Kentucky is the hottest team in the league, but FIU is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Hilton has broken the 100- yard mark in the last two games for the Panthers, and will need to do so again if his team hopes to cool off the Hilltoppers. Rainey and Jakes will be challenged by the aggressive FIU defense. Carroll will also be pressured more than usual this week, and he could be forced into making some uncharacteristic mistakes.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: FIU 31, Western Kentucky 28