Key matchup

Wide receiver Johnny Spevak vs. Idaho State's secondary

In four games so far, Spevak has 25 catches, 375 receiving yards and five touchdowns. No other Wildcat has more than six catches or 74 receiving yards. Spevak's yardage represents 28.9 percent of Central Washington's average output of 325 yards per game.

The key to shutting down the Wildcats' offense, clearly, is denying Spevak the ball.

The Wildcats admit redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Robertson is still working on learning his reads. If the Bengals can keep Spevak surrounded by a blanket of defenders all game, Robertson will be forced out of his comfort zone and perhaps even into a turnover or two.

System battle

When the Bengals pass

The Wildcats have intercepted the ball five times this season while allowing only one touchdown pass. But none of the quarterbacks Central Washington has faced has the cannon arm of Idaho State's Kyle Blum, who threw for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone against Weber State.

Advantage - Idaho State

When the Bengals run

The Bengals' potential starters are Ben Laporta, who has a sore shoulder, and true freshman Skylar Morgan and transfer Jordan Scott, neither of whom has an NCAA carry. The Wildcats have held opponents to 3.4 yards per carry this season. Their linebacking corps is anchored by Prince Hall, a transfer from Alabama.

Advantage - Central Washington

When the Wildcats pass

As expected with a freshman, Robertson still isn't as savvy with his reads as an upperclassman would be. He has to contend with an Idaho State secondary that has recently received a boost with the return of safety Amir Owens. In addition, Robertson isn't as mobile as former Wildcats quarterback Mike Reilly, which means Idaho State should be able to fluster him with its pass rush.

Advantage - Idaho State

When the Wildcats run

Even with the addition of Western Washington transfer and all-conference running back Randall Eldridge, the Wildcats are still averaging only 127 rushing yards per game. Idaho State will have an easier time containing Eldridge than it did Weber State's Trevyn Smith a week ago and Oklahoma's Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray the week before.

Advantage - Idaho State

Special teams

Idaho State has a field-goal kicker with 60-yard-plus range in Jarrett Huk and an All-American punter in Jon Vanderwielen. If the Bengals can figure out how to protect Vanderwielen and prevent another punt block, the Bengals should enjoy favorable field position all game.

Advantage - Idaho State

Coaching

The record books say it all. Idaho State coach John Zamberlin's 63 wins at Central Washington are the second-most in program history. Central Washington's two wins over Big Sky teams came during Zamberlin's tenure, while Wildcats coach Blaine Bennett hasn't yet proven he can orchestrate an upset over an upper-division team.

Advantage - Idaho State

In the end

Even though Central Washington is one of the most lethal Division II teams in the nation, it still has only 24 scholarships to dole out. The difference in athleticism between Idaho State's and Central Washington's players should be apparent by the middle stages of the game.

Idaho State 30, Central Washington 23

Around the Big Sky

No. 11 Weber State (1-2, 1-0) at Portland State (1-2, 0-1)

2:05 p.m. at PGE Park in Portland, Ore.

Series: Weber State leads 17-12

Prediction: Weber State 45, Portland State 27

Montana State (1-1, 0-0) at Northern Colorado (1-2, 0-1)

1:35 p.m. at Nottingham Field in Greeley, Colo.

Series: Montana State leads 14-10-1

Prediction: Montana State 24, Northern Colorado 6

No. 4 Montana (3-0, 1-0) at Northern Arizona (1-1, 0-0)

3:05 p.m. at Walkup Skydome in Flagstaff, Ariz.

Series: Montana leads 31-11

Prediction: Montana 34, Northern Arizona 21

No. 19 Eastern Washington (2-1, 1-0) at Sacramento State (1-2, 0-0)

7:05 p.m. at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, Calif.

Series: Eastern Washington leads 13-4

Prediction: Eastern Washington 22, Sacramento State 16