Up next: Northern Colorado Bears

Records entering the game:<br> Both teams are on equal footing. They enter with identical records of 1-4, 0-3 in conference games. This game marks the halfway point in the season and both teams need a win to prevent it from slipping away.

Last year’s meeting: <br>24-21, Vikings. Portland State entered halftime up seven with 21 points. The Colorado defense stiffened up in the second half and allowed only three more points. It proved to be enough as the Vikings were able to bleed the clock after a Bears touchdown late in the fourth quarter to improve to 4-7 in the season.

Perfect pair:<br> In Big Sky Conference statistics for the season, the Vikings and the Bears are within one ranking of each other in the following categories: kickoff returns, field goals, interceptions, third and first down conversions, scoring defense and rushing offense.

Scouting the Bears:<br> The team has struggled to get started this season. Their scoring offense is next to last in the league and is averaging just 13.6 points per game. The Bears are also inconsistent; they have managed 27 points in a game and none in another.

They do have the best pass defense in the conference, so it will be interesting to see how they fare against the spread offense the Viks runs. Defensively, they allow a 94 percent conversion rate for points in the red zone.

Quarterback Bryan Waggener is fairly efficient, but their leading rusher, Andre Harris, is only garnering an average of 65.2 yards per game.

Scouting the Vikings:<br> Injuries will hurt the team this week. Senior linebacker Erik Pedersen, who leads the team with 40 tackles, will likely miss this game with a hand injury. Fullback Bobby McClintock, also a senior, is questionable with a calf injury. Neither of them practiced this week.

The Vikings have the top passing offense in the conference and two of its top three receivers in Ray Fry and Lavonte Kirven. If the defense can keep up the pressure they have been exerting, they should be rewarded with sacks, considering the Bears have given up 16 so far this season.