GAME NOTES: The 15th-ranked Ball State Cardinals will try to wrap up the outright West Division title this evening, as they host the Western Michigan Broncos in a key Mid-American Conference showdown in Muncie. The Cardinals are coming off their biggest win of the season, as they outlasted Central Michigan 31-24 on Wednesday.

"The game was a tremendous game," stated head coach Brady Hoke. "It was exactly what you would think it would be for 60 minutes of two very good football teams slugging it out and playing hard."

The win improved the Cardinals to 11-0 for the first time in school history and more importantly pushed them a game ahead of both Central Michigan and Western Michigan in the West Division race at 7-0. BSU, which has never played in the league title game, is one of only four of the 119 Football Bowl Subdivision teams still undefeated.

As for WMU, it has run off three straight victories to keep its West Division title hopes alive. The Broncos were last in play on November 15th, when they downed Toledo, 27-17, to cap a perfect three-game homestand. The win improved the team to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in league play, with its lone conference loss coming to Central Michigan. With a win in this game and a Central Michigan loss this week, WMU would earn a spot in the MAC title game.

WMU leads the all-time series with BSU, 19-15, but the Cardinals have won three of the last four meetings overall and own a 9-8 all-time mark in Muncie.

The Broncos are scoring a solid 30.5 ppg this season courtesy of their aerial attack, which is averaging a hardy 309.8 ypg. Quarterback Tim Hiller has enjoyed a sensational campaign and he has completed 68.1 percent of his tosses for 3,382 yards, with 33 touchdowns against just six interceptions. In the team's last outing, Hiller hit on 22-of-36 tosses for 225 yards and three touchdowns in leading WMU past Toledo. Jamarko Simmons was his main target with eight catches for 96 yards, while Juan Nunez also added five receptions for 87 yards and a score in the win. Hiller has done nice job spreading out the ball this season, but Simmons has been his go-to-guy, leading the team with 92 catches, 1,110 yards and seven scores. In the backfield, Brandon West has provided the club with a dependable runner and he has gone for 909 yards and seven scores on the ground. West however, missed last game with a sprained ankle and is listed as questionable for this one.

Defensively, WMU has lacked some consistency, but of late the unit has been stout, allowing just 14.6 ppg over its last three outings. Overall, the Broncos have done a good job against the run (137.5 ypg), but have shown some vulnerability to the pass (247.3 ypg). In their last game, the Broncos limited Toledo to 358 total yards, including 145 on the ground, in a 27-17 victory. The defense forced a pair of turnovers in the game, while allowing Toledo to convert just 4-of-15 third down chances. E.J. Biggers led the way with 10 stops and a forced fumble, while Austin Pritchard had eight stops and a sack. On the year, Louis Delmas has clearly been this unit's best player, as he leads the club in tackles (92) as well as interceptions (four).

The Cardinals have been a machine on offense, churning out 456.1 total ypg for an average 37.0 ppg. BSU is gaining 197.6 ypg on the ground and 258.5 ypg through the air and those numbers look even better when considering the offense has committed a mere 10 turnovers. Quarterback Nate Davis has had himself quite a season and he has completed 67.2 percent of his throws for 2,822 yards, with 24 touchdowns and only six picks. In the biggest game of the season, Davis threw for 175 yards and four touchdowns in a 31-24 win at Central Michigan last week. With BSU down 24-17 in the final quarter, Davis threw a pair of touchdowns to keep BSU's perfect season intact.

"Nate did a great job with decision making got us into some plays and got us out of some plays," said coach Hoke.

MiQuale Lewis also turned in a big performance in the win, accounting for 177 of the team's 232 rushing yards. It was another sensation effort from Lewis, who has now rushed for 1,450 yards and 17 touchdowns on the season.

On defense, BSU has more than held its own, limiting opponents to a mere 16.2 ppg and 352.6 total ypg. The unit is permitting 146.5 rushing ypg and 206.2 passing ypg and has picked off 14 tosses compared to just nine passing touchdowns allowed. Facing a potent attack last week, however, the Cardinals were pushed around a bit, allowing 466 total yards to Central Michigan. The defense, though, came up big when it had to and allowed Central Michigan to score on just 2-of-4 red-zone chances. Alex Knipp led the charge with 13 tackles, while Bryant Haines posted nine stops and 1.5 of the team's three sacks. Sean Baker had eight tackles and an interception, as he continues to lead the team in both stops (83) and picks (five) on the season.

Everything is on the line for both programs, so expect a hard fought and exciting affair. BSU though, has everything going for it and behind its balanced attack, it should emerge victorious in this one.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ball State 31, Western Michigan 20