By Don Stone, KennesawStateSports.com, FootballAtlanta.com
Kennesaw State heads to Western Kentucky for still another midweek matchup on Wednesday, October 30, at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium.
This will be the second straight week that the Owls take on the #1 team in Conference USA after their stunning 24-21 victory over Liberty.
Kennesaw State enters with a challenging 1-6 record in their inaugural FBS season. Despite their struggles, the Owls are coming off a monumental upset victory over Liberty, which has breathed new life and energy into their campaign. It marked KSU’s first-ever victory over an FBS program in 11 attempts.
WKU, on the other hand, boasts a solid 5-2 record and are one of only two undefeated teams in Conference USA play. They’ve shown consistency and are looking to maintain their position at the top of the conference standings.
The Owls’ offense has been led by quarterback Davis Bryson and a trio of running backs: Qua Ashley, Michael Benefield, and Preston Daniels. Their ground-heavy approach has been the cornerstone of the offense, averaging 23.4 pass attempts per game.
For the Hilltoppers, keep an eye on Elijah Young, accumulating 375 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. He’s also a threat in the passing game with 24 receptions. WKU quarterback Caden Veltkamp has been named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week. Veltkamp had an efficient performance in WKU’s 31-14 win over Sam Houston on Wednesday in Huntsville, Texas, to help his team improve to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in CUSA play. He threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-29 passing.
The Owls will need to find ways to improve their scoring output, as they’ve been averaging only 13 points per game, although they improved on that by 11 points in the upset win against Liberty .
The Hilltoppers will try to exploit Kennesaw State’s vulnerabilities on defense. Given the Owls’ struggles against the run (they allowed over 300 yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a previous loss), WKU may focus on establishing their ground game early.
KSU’s offense has been one of the least productive in the FBS, ranking 130th out of 134 programs with an average of 14.6 points per game before their upset win. Their defense has also struggled, allowing an average of 36 points per game in their first five contests.
Kennesaw State’s shocking 27-24 victory over previously undefeated Liberty was a season-defining moment. This win demonstrated the team’s potential and resilience, especially considering they entered the game as significant underdogs.
This game holds significant implications for the Conference USA standings. The Hilltoppers are one of the two undefeated teams in conference play and looking to hold on to their new spot at the top. A win for Kennesaw State could shake up the conference hierarchy and potentially impact the race for the conference championship.
While specific betting odds for this matchup are not provided in the search results, it’s likely that Western Kentucky will enter the game as significant favorites given their record and home-field advantage. However, Kennesaw State’s recent upset victory over Liberty suggests they shouldn’t be underestimated.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM EDT on Wednesday, October 30, and will be televised on ESPN2.
