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FACTS & STATS: Site: Bulldog Stadium (41,031) -- Fresno, California. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: LaTech 2-2, FSU 2-2. Away Record: LaTech 2-2, FSU 1-2. Neutral Record: LaTech 0-0, FSU 0-1. Conference Record: LaTech 3-1, FSU 2-1. Series Record: Fresno State leads, 9-3.

GAME NOTES: The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs try to make it four in a row this weekend as they take on their canine counterparts of Fresno State in a Western Athletic Conference battle in California.

Since opening the 2011 season with just one win in five tries, that lone victory coming in overtime against Central Arkansas, LaTech has gotten on track in a big way with three straight wins, all of them against conference foes. Last Saturday, the team took down the San Jose State Spartans in a 38-28 final, which means these Bulldogs are now tied for second in the WAC standings at 3-1.

As for the Fresno State version of the Bulldogs, they've been rather inconsistent so far this season with the defense not living up to the high standards expected by head coach Pat Hill. Prior to taking last week off, FSU matched up against Nevada in conference play and was taken down in a 45-38 final on the road in Reno. The loss was the third in four tries for the Bulldogs who are now 2-1 in league action.

LaTech lost last year's meeting in Ruston by a score of 40-34, which means the all-time series now favors FSU, 9-3.

With Nick Isham nursing a shoulder injury, Colby Cameron stepped in as the starting quarterback for Louisiana Tech against San Jose State and promptly delivered a double-digit win for the hosts in Ruston. Cameron hit on 17-of-27 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, while Quinton Patton fielded five of those passes for 116 yards and both TDs. Lennon Creer stepped in to offer a game-high 112 yards and a TD on 31 rushing attempts, the team finishing with 260 yards on 61 carries overall. In the second half of last season, Creer was one of the more dominating runners in the WAC, but this season he's been knocked down more than a few pegs with an average of just 87.8 ypg on the ground. Aside from the effort against SJSU, Creer has only one other 100-yard game and that was against Central Arkansas. Even though he might not be in there once Isham regains his health, the switch at quarterback might be a good one for the time being since opponents don't necessarily know what to expect out of Cameron.

Not only was the LaTech offense humming right along against San Jose State at home, the defense was also primed for a strong outing and came away with four interceptions and a couple of sacks. Granted, the secondary did allow 327 yards and three touchdowns through the air, but that's to be expected when the Spartans decided to abandon the run, a form of attack that resulted in a mere 12 yards on 17 attempts. Only three times this season have the Bulldogs allowed more than 100 yards on the ground and now thanks to the effort versus SJSU the program ranks first in the WAC and 13th in the country with just 101.1 ypg allowed. Unfortunately, the pass defense is another story with opponents generating a substantial 279.1 ypg, which means the Bulldogs are second-worst in the conference in holding down opposing aerial attacks.

Fresno State's offense has been rather average this season, much of that having to do with the team breaking in a new quarterback in Derek Carr. The younger brother of former FSU signal-caller and first-round NFL Draft pick David, Carr is beginning to break out of his shell and establish his own identity. Completing close to 60 percent of his passes, Carr has delivered a total of 15 touchdowns through the air, while having just five of his 271 attempts picked off. A favorite target for Carr, Jalen Saunders has turned his 26 catches into a team-high 600 yards and six TDs. Coming out of the backfield is Robbie Rouse, who currently sits first in the WAC and eighth in the country with an average of 123.0 rushing ypg. Outside of Carr, who has been credited with 31 rushing attempts, only one other player on the team even has double- digit carries through eight games.

Coach Hill preaches aggressive defense to his teams, but this year the Bulldogs appear to have lost some of their bite. Through eight games, the team is allowing 193.4 rushing ypg, which is sixth in the conference and 94th nationally, with the pass defense permitting another 230.4 ypg as well. Put it together and Fresno State is sixth in the league and 91st nationally with a hefty 423.8 ypg allowed overall, not nearly the presence needed for this, or any team, to be feared by the competition. Nevertheless, a player like Logan Harrell is still someone that Louisiana Tech has to prepare for as he leads FSU in tackles for loss (11.5) and is also tops with five sacks, not to mention nine quarterback hurries. However, should LaTech focus too much on Harrell, it might lose track of Tristan Okpalaugo who, on just 24 total tackles, has 8.5 TFL and four sacks of his own.

Fresno State needs to take advantage of playing in front of a favorable crowd and deliver the kind of hits on defense that have made them noteworthy in previous campaigns this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Fresno State 31, Louisiana Tech 24