PREVIEW: WKU at Louisiana Tech

Redshirt+junior+linebacker+Nick+Holt+%2810%29+celebrates+with+redshirt+senior+defensive+back+Cam+Thomas+after+a+third-down+stop+during+the+first+half+of+Western+Kentuckys+game+vs.+Old+Dominion.+WKU+led+42-30+at+the+half.+Brandon+Carter%2FHERALD
Gallery • 2 Photos
Redshirt junior linebacker Nick Holt (10) celebrates with redshirt senior defensive back Cam Thomas after a third-down stop during the first half of Western Kentucky’s game vs. Old Dominion. WKU led 42-30 at the half. Brandon Carter/HERALD

Herald Sports Staff
October 27, 2014

Western Kentucky (3-4, 1-3 C-USA) at Louisiana Tech (5-3, 4-0 C-USA)

KICKOFF: 2:00 p.m. CT

BROADCAST: Fox Sports Network, 105.3 FM (IMG Sports Network)

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ODDS: Louisiana Tech -7.5 (Vegas Insider)

SERIES: LA Tech 2-1

LAST MEETING: LA Tech 34-0, 12/15/73

WHAT’S AT STAKE:

WKU aims to hand Louisiana Tech its first Conference USA loss of the season…WKU hopes to earn its second win in the league after defeating Old Dominion 66-51 Saturday.

KEY MATCHUP:

WKU offense vs. LA Tech defense – On paper, the Bulldogs are the toughest test the Hilltoppers will see all season defensively. A WKU offense that put up a school FBS record 66 points against Old Dominion will face the conference’s third best defense only allowing 25.9 points per game. Quarterback Brandon Doughty leads WKU as the nation’s fifth best offense averaging 554.7 yards per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

LA Tech RB Kenneth Dixon – The junior has shown his versatility through the run and pass game with 10 touchdowns on the ground and four receiving scores. Dixon caught six catches for 124 yards in the Bulldogs 31-20 over Southern Mississippi and averages 4.5 per carry.

WKU RB Leon Allen – Coming off a career-high 182 yard rushing performance against Old Dominion, Allen now averages 4.7 yards per carry with 716 total yards on the season. Allen will face a Bulldog defense that ranks as the top rushing defense in Conference USA allowing just 125.6 yards per game.

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FACTS AND FIGURES:

It’s been over 40 years since the last time these two teams met in the 1973 NCAA D-II National Championship game in the Camellia Bowl, where LA Tech defeated WKU 34-0…WKU at the time was led by head coach Jimmy Feix. 

INJURY UPDATE: Senior cornerback Cam Thomas (hamstring) and redshirt junior cornerback Wonderful Terry (concussion) are inactive today as reported by Chad Bishop of the Bowling Green Daily News. Junior Forrest Coleman will get the start at cornerback and freshman running back Joe Brown will move over to defense and play safety. WR Kylen Towner will also make the move and play safety.