For each week of Western Kentucky's 2019 football season, Tyler Mansfield of InsideHilltopperSports.com will connect with a beat writer who covers the opposing team for a Q&A session.
For Game 9, Tyler chats with Jake Elman, who covers Florida Atlantic for The Palm Beach Post.
WKU (5-3, 4-1 Conference USA) is coming off a 26-23 loss at Marshall.
FAU (5-3, 3-1) travels to Bowling Green after winning 41-3 last weekend at Old Dominion.
Kickoff time for the C-USA East Division matchup is slated for 3 p.m. Saturday at Houchens-Smith Stadium. It will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Tyler: I know Florida Atlantic is dealing with some injuries — most importantly to quarterback Chris Robison — after last week’s win at Old Dominion. Do you have any idea if Robison will be able to play Saturday at Western Kentucky, and if not, who would step in to replace him as the starter?
Jake: Right now, it sounds like Robison is going to play. He met with reporters this week (always a plus and sign when guys are hurt) and said he expects to play. I thought Robison looked sharp in practice.
If he can’t go or something flares up, you’ll see Indiana transfer Nick Tronti come in. Tronti’s more of a game manager who does most of his damage on the ground. It’ll be tough for FAU to win without Robison, though.
Tyler: The Owls and Hilltoppers are a pair of pretty even teams on paper and are both right at the top of the Conference USA East Division standings alongside Marshall. Just how important do you feel this matchup is overall?
Jake: This matchup is unquestionably huge for both sides. The loser is going to need a lot - and I can’t emphasize that enough - to make the title game. And the November schedule is far from easy for either team, so winning and securing bowl eligibility adds to Saturday’s importance.
These are the types of games I think Lane Kiffin’s Owls show up for, even after last year.
Tyler: How do you expect things to play out Saturday in Bowling Green?
Jake: If Robison wasn’t playing, it’d be hard for me to pick FAU, especially with all of the running back injuries. Right now, I have FAU winning 28-20. I think this will be similar to the game FAU played against MTSU earlier this year where it’s close for the first half but FAU pulls away.
Don’t be surprised to see FAU sneak into the 30s if the running backs are healthy, even against a tough WKU defense. But realistically, FAU should take this one by one score.
