WHERE: Casey Stadium, Albany, N.Y.

KICKOFF: 3:30 p.m. Saturday

ALL-TIME SERIES: Tied, 5-5

LAST MEETING: Oct. 15, 2016, won by Maine, 20-16

TV: Fox College Sports

WHEN MAINE HAS THE BALL: Maine’s offensive success relies on a balance between the run and the pass. So expect the Black Bears to keep pounding away with Josh Mack, who leads the FCS with 154.4 rushing yards per game, even against an Albany rush defense that ranks second in the CAA, allowing just 89.3 yards per game. In fact, Albany ranks second overall defensively in the CAA, with 279 yards per game, which is 10th nationally among FCS schools). Expect a lot of play-action passing from Chris Ferguson, who threw for five scoring passes last week. Albany doesn’t put much pressure on the passer – only 11 sacks – with two interceptions.

WHEN ALBANY HAS THE BALL: The Great Danes have their greatest success in the air. Will Brunson has thrown for 1,184 yards and six touchdowns. And they go deep quite often. Jerod Diggs averages 18.0 yards per catch on 18 catches and Jordan Crockett averages 13.5 on 11 catches. They put pressure on the secondary with deep shots, then try to hit you with Karl Mofor, who has rushed for 344 yards and four touchdowns. Maine’s secondary has to be sharp and its defense has to continue to force turnovers – Maine leads the CAA with 16. Look for the Black Bears to come hard after Brunson.

KEY STAT: 22, the number of sacks Albany has allowed this year, last in the CAA

OUTLOOK: Again it comes down to whether Maine can run the ball effectively against a solid run defense. If Mack gives Maine any kind of running game, it will be in good shape. Special teams, again, will be a factor. Maine ranks first in the CAA in punt returns (17.1 yards) and kickoff returns (24.1 yards), and got a punt return for a touchdown last week from Micah Wright. Albany ranks second in punt returns (11.4 yards) and third in kickoff returns (22.2).

OF NOTE: Last week Josh Mack became the first Maine RB to rush for over 200 yards twice in a season since Carl Smith in 1989. … Maine senior CB Najee Goode is expected to play with broken ribs, suffered in last Saturday’s 51-27 win over Rhode Island. He’ll wear extra padding. Senior S DeAndre Scott, however, will miss his third consecutive game and fourth overall with a concussion. Maine is still without junior DL Uchenna Egwuonwu, who is suspended. … The Great Danes are missing star junior RB Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks, who rushed for nearly 1,400 yards last year but suffered a knee injury in the season opener. … Albany is coming off its bye week and is 2-0 at home … Maine is 3-1 at Albany.

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