MATCHUPS

WMU's quarterback and receivers

Tim Hiller is having an excellent senior season, with 278.8 yards a game and 17 touchdowns against eight interceptions. Western will spread the field and dink away to frustrate MSU. Hiller has five receivers with 31 catches or more, led by Robert Arnheim with 47 for 526 yards.

MSU's QB and receivers vs. WMU's defensive backs

The Broncos are last in the MAC in pass defense, allowing 249.6 yards a game, with 16 touchdowns and six picks. Blair White saw a lot of double coverage last week at Minnesota, it will be interesting to see if that continues. And as always, it will be interesting to see what Mark Dantonio does next with the quarterback situation. It's been confusing thus far.

MSU's front seven vs. WMU's OL and running backs

Tim Hiller isn't the only standout in Western's backfield. Brandon West is second in the MAC with 824 rushing yards, averaging 5.1 a carry. Despite last week's overall struggles, MSU's defense did not let Minnesota run the ball at all. The Spartans may need to give Trevor Anderson (ankle) a week off to heal.

MSU's defensive backs

The numbers are staggering. The Spartans have allowed 21 touchdown passes - 118th out of 120 FBS teams and six more than anyone else in the Big Ten - and they've intercepted five passes. An incredibly bad ratio. The big question today is whether senior safety Danny Fortener (concussion) will be back. If not, cover your eyes.

Special teams

Perhaps Keshawn Martin should have been returning kickoffs all along? He sure looked special on the 93-yard touchdown last week. Kick coverage, meanwhile, was poor again, and Western back Brandon West is dangerous. Ben Armer (38.8 average) is a good punter for the Broncos, while kicker John Potter is 9 of 14.

Coaches

Bill Cubit has done a strong job of turning Western into a successful program, although the Broncos hoped to be better than 4-5 at this point in Hiller's senior season. Mark Dantonio is facing the first substantial criticism of his three-year stay at MSU. He needs another strong November to match what he did in his first two in East Lansing.

Intangibles

Dantonio cut off media access to his players this week, an unusual move at a critical time for the Spartans. MSU shouldn't expect a huge boost from its crowd today, so the Spartans will have to come with an attitude. The Broncos have a great opportunity to follow up a 2007 win over Iowa and a 2008 win over Illinois. They'll be confident.

MSU's offensive line, running backs vs. WMU's front seven

If the Spartans can't run the ball today, they have bigger problems than we think. Western is yielding 4.8 yards a carry and 176.4 yards a game. But the Broncos will stack the box like everyone else. The question of the day for MSU is whether Larry Caper (concussion) can go. If not, does Ashton Leggett get a chance behind Edwin Baker?