TV/radio:
11 a.m. Saturday; ESPN2, WGN-AM 720, WNUR-FM 89.3.
The line:
Michigan State by 7.
Records:
Northwestern 7-3, 3-3 Big Ten; Michigan State 5-5, 2-4.
Last meeting:
Michigan State won 31-17 on Nov. 26, 2011, in Evanston.
ON THE OFFENSIVE:
Le’Veon Bell has the nation’s second-most rushing attempts (283) but his per-carry average is a pedestrian 4.4. Quarterback Andrew Maxwell completed just 9 of 27 passes in MSU’s last game, against Nebraska.
GETTING DEFENSIVE:
The Spartans are among the Big Ten’s best, holding runners to 3.6 yards per carry and quarterbacks to a 52.9 completion rate. NU coach Pat Fitzgerald described middle linebacker Max Bullough as “awesome.”
THE NUMBER:
10. Michigan State’s four Big Ten losses have been by a total of 10 points.
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THE TALK:
Call this the Heartbreak Bowl. Both teams blew late leads to Nebraska and Michigan.
TEDDY GREENSTEIN’S PICK:
Could Michigan State really finish 0-4 at home in Big Ten play? Northwestern has been a primo bounce-back team.
Northwestern 24-21