FACTS & STATS: Site: Fouts Field (30,500) -- Denton, Texas. Television: SunBelt Network. Home Record: WKU 0-4, North Texas 0-3. Away Record: WKU 0-3, North Texas 1-3. Neutral Record: WKU 0-0, North Texas 0-0. Conference Record: WKU 0-3, North Texas 0-4. Series Record: North Texas leads, 2-0.

GAME NOTES: Two teams trying to corral their first league win will collide this Saturday afternoon, as the North Texas Mean Green host the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in Sun Belt Conference play at Fouts Field.

The Hilltoppers have yet to taste the thrill of victory this season, as the team has dropped its first seven games on the year. Since the 2008 campaign the Hilltoppers have dropped 15 consecutive games, which is the longest losing streak in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Last weekend the Hilltoppers were embarrassed by Middle Tennessee by a 62-24 margin.

As for the Mean Green, they opened the year with a 20-10 victory over Ball State, but since then the team has dropped six straight matchups. Last weekend the Mean Green were no match for Troy, as the Trojans pounded North Texas, 50-26.

The Mean Green have won both of their matchups against Western Kentucky, and that includes a 51-40 decision over the Hilltoppers last season.

The Hilltoppers have been unable to top any opponent this season, and that is due in large part to the ineffectiveness of the offense, which is producing just 289.6 total ypg, and 16.4 ppg. The team relies heavily on the ground game, as WKU comes into this weekend churning out 152.6 ypg. However, there is no workhorse in the backfield, as the top rusher is Bobby Rainey, who has just 446 yards. Quarterback Kawaun Jakes has a team-high four rushing touchdowns on the season, but the signal caller has been inconsistent with his arm, throwing for just 749 yards and five scores against six interceptions. The Hilltoppers scored 24 points in their matchup against Middle Tennessee last weekend, but it was not enough as the team was downed by the Blue Raiders by 38 points. Western Kentucky finished with just 250 total yards, including just 100 rushing yards on 2.5 yards per attempt. Jakes threw for 134 yards and one score in the contest, but the quarterback completed just 9-of-20 passes and was also sacked four times.

A team will not win many games when an inconsistent offense is paired with a turn-style defense. Western Kentucky heads into this weekend allowing 41.3 ppg on 509.1 total yards per matchup. The Hilltoppers have been unable to stop the run or pass throughout the season, as opponents are gashing this unit for 266.3 ypg, while torching the Hilltoppers for another 242.9 ypg through the air. This unit has done little to help itself out, as the team has forced just 10 turnovers thus far, and comes into this weekend with only three sacks. Western Kentucky was absolutely embarrassed this past weekend, as the team was clobbered for 62 points and 646 total yards. MT scored four rushing and four passing touchdowns against this defense, while torching the Hilltoppers for 417 yards through the air.

Compared to their counterpart, the Mean Green are clearly the more superior team offensively, but overall North Texas is producing a modest 25.4 ppg, despite posting an impressive 403.6 total ypg. The Mean Green are averaging 223.3 passing ypg on the year, but the true success for this unit has been its rushing attack, which is churning out 180.3 ypg, and out of the 23 touchdowns scored by this offense, 16 have come via the run. Lance Dunbar has done most of the damage for the ground game, as the tailback is pacing the team with 734 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dunbar continued his tremendous season in the team's recent matchup against Troy, as the running back rumbled for 111 yards and two touchdowns. However, despite his strong performance North Texas was downed by a 24-point margin. Nathan Tune, who is filling in for an injured Riley Dodge, was solid in the contest, completing 22-of-33 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Tune could have a chance to build off that performance, as Dodge is questionable for this upcoming weekend.

What has taken away from the play of the North Texas offense has been the disastrous defensive unit, which is being punished for 37.6 ppg. North Texas is being torched for 251.9 ypg through the air, but sadly enough the defense has done even worse against the run, allowing opponents to rumble for 182.4 ypg, and out of the 29 touchdowns surrendered by this unit, 18 have come via the run. The Mean Green have not done much to make life easier, as the unit has recorded just nine takeaways and nine sacks in seven games. The defense was absolutely picked apart by Troy over the weekend, as the team surrendered a whopping 697 total yards, including 205 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. North Texas was able to force two turnovers in the loss, but the unit allowed the Trojans to convert on 12-of-19 third down attempts and 6-of-7 red zone chances.

The Mean Green have plenty of problems defensively, but they should score enough points to grab a win against a very weak Western Kentucky squad this weekend.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: North Texas 48, Western Kentucky 28

Saturday, October 31st, 4:00 p.m. (et)