TV/radio: 11 a.m. Saturday, ESPN2; WNUR-89.3 FM.
Line: Northwestern by 2.
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Records: NU 0-1; Arizona State 1-0.
Series: Arizona State leads 2-0.
Last meeting: Arizona State won 56-14 on Oct. 7, 1978, in Evanston. None of the Wildcats or Sun Devils had been born the last time the two schools met. Not a whole lot of carryover factor, which is good.
Team comparison:
(2004 averages, rank)
%%
CATEGORY ARIZ. ST. NU
Rushing offense 131 (53) 124 (56)
Passing offense 356 (7) 513 (1)
Total offense 487 (23) 637 (3)
Scoring offense 41 (25) 45 (18)
Rushing defense 87 (37) 157 (59)
Passing defense 196 (47) 368 (92)
Total defense 283 (34) 525 (86)
Scoring defense 9 (18) 48 (86)
%%
Northwestern outlook: Wildcats lost a winnable game at TCU with five missed field goals and too many mistakes that led to big plays. Brett Basanez established he’s ready for a dominant season with school-record 513 passing yards and four touchdown passes, three to Jonathan Fields.
Arizona State outlook: The Sun Devils breezed past UTEP 41-9 but want to end a three-game road losing streak. QB Andrew Walter has two straight 3,000-yard passing seasons, but Wildcats offense must account for safety Emmanuel Franklin, who intercepted two UTEP passes, returning one for a touchdown.