Owls must keep offense balanced

Where: Feix Field, Bowling Green, Ky. TV: WTCN, ESPN3 Weather: 49 degrees, 10 percent chance of rain Online: Coverage at SunSentinel.com/fau; @ShandelRich on Twitter

Quick slant: The Owls lead the series 5-3. FAU is attempting to win four consecutive games for the first time since 2013. They also are going after their first 4-0 start in conference play. Western Kentucky has won two consecutive Conference USA regular season titles.

About Western Kentucky (5-2): First-year coach Mike Sanford’s start ranks behind only South Florida’s Charlie Strong (7-0) and Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley (6-1). The Hilltoppers are led by quarterback Mike White, who has thrown for 1,957 yards and 12 TDs.

About FAU (4-3): Behind Devin Singletary and Gregory Howell Jr., the Owls have the nation’s ninth-best rushing attack at 285.6 yards a game. Linebacker Azeez AlShaair is first in tackles with 60. Led by Chris Tooley’s four picks, the secondary is tops in Conference USA with 12 interceptions. Three things to watch: Can FAU quarterback Jason Driskel keep the passing game going? The Owls showed how explosive they are when the passing and running games are effective.

How will FAU handle the crowd? WKU coach Mike Sanford has asked for a full house.

The biggest matchup is the WKU passing offense versus the FAU secondary. Both are among the nation’s best, so something has to give.