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FACTS & STATS: Site: Floyd Stadium (30,788) -- Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Television: ESPN3.com. Home Record: ASU 5-0, MT 1-3. Away Record: ASU 3-2, MT 1-4. Neutral Record: ASU 6-0, MT 0-0. Conference Record: ASU 6-0, MT 1-4. Series Record: Middle Tennessee leads,9-3.

GAME NOTES: The Sun Belt Conference championship is within sight for Arkansas State, which must first take care of business this Saturday on the road against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

The Red Wolves are on the prowl for a conference title, and with a win Saturday, they will have it. Arkansas State has won seven straight games, and is currently a perfect 6-0 in league play. The last time ASU was in action the team grabbed a 30-21 decision over Louisiana.

It has been a rough season for the Blue Raiders, as they enter this weekend with just two wins. The last time MT was on the field the team suffered a 42-14 setback to ULM, marking the third straight loss for the Blue Raiders.

Middle Tennessee has dominated Arkansas State through the years, winning nine of the 12 meetings, including all six played in Murfreesboro.

The Red Wolves are running away with the conference because they possess the most balanced attack in the league. Arkansas State is producing 31.2 ppg, and as the ability to dominate on the ground, or through the air. The majority of the success though can be attributed to the play of quarterback Ryan Aplin, who has thrown for 2,585 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also leading the team with 529 yards and eight more scores.

Aplin was at it again in the team's recent win over Louisiana, as the signal caller rushed for 70 yards and one touchdown, while adding another 226 yards and two scores through the air.

Aplin and the offense are getting a lot of attention, and rightfully so, but the defense has also played a large role in the team's success this year. ASU is currently holding opponents to just 19.9 ppg, and has done a tremendous job against the run, limiting teams to just 114.5 ypg on just 3.2 yards per attempt. Opponents are throwing for 209.1 yards against the Red Wolves, but they have countered that by recording 16 interceptions. Overall the defense has 23 takeaways, and also comes into this game with 30 sacks.

In the victory over Louisiana, the Red Wolves held the Ragin' Cajuns to just 66 rushing yards and even though the defense allowed 206 yards and two scores through the air, the unit still managed three interceptions and four sacks. Brandon Joiner grabbed all four sacks for ASU and now has a team-best 10 on the year.

The Blue Raiders have not been as potent as Arkansas State, but they have performed well at times in the offensive department, averaging 24.8 ppg. Logan Kilgore has turned into a proven leader for MT, as the quarterback has thrown for 2,042 yards and 18 touchdowns. His favorite target has become Malcolm Beyah, who is leading the team with 42 receptions, 469 yards and six touchdowns.

In the loss to ULM this past weekend Kilgore did not have his best showing on the year, throwing for only 148 yards and two scores, but was also intercepted once. Benjamin Cunningham, who is second on the team with 340 rushing yards, paced the squad with 53 in the loss, but he was dealing with a foot injury and his status for this weekend is up in the air.

The Blue Raiders are talented enough offensively to have more than two wins, but the defense has been the downfall, as the squad is surrendering 34.0 ppg. The biggest problem for Middle Tennessee has been its inability to stop the run, as opponents are gashing Arkansas State for 211.8 ypg, while scoring 24 times on the ground.

Defending the run was the problem for MT this past weekend, as the Warhawks churned out 260 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Overall Middle Tennessee was dismantled for 453 yards and six scores. Gorby Loreus led the way in the setback with 12 tackles, while Eric Russell and Darin Davis tallied nine stops apiece.

Middle Tennessee has never lost at home to Arkansas State, but that is going to change this weekend. Look for Aplin to lead the Red Wolves to another solid victory and a conference title in the process.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Arkansas State 37, Middle Tennessee 24