TV/radio: 7 p.m. Saturday; BTN, WVMP-AM 1000, WNUR-FM 89.3.
Line: Vanderbilt by 31/2.
Records: Vanderbilt 0-1; Northwestern 1-0.
Last meeting: Northwestern won 23-21 on Sept. 4, 2010 in Nashville.
ON THE OFFENSIVE: Vanderbilt tailback Zac Stacy is like Northwestern’s Venric Mark “but bigger,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said. QB Jordan Rodgers, Aaron’s brother, is dangerous both as a passer and runner.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: The Commodores ranked 18th in total defense last season and held ninth-ranked South Carolina to 272 yards last week. But Vandy had conditioning issues, faltering down the stretch.
THE NUMBER: 32-12. Northwestern’s record in games decided by a touchdown or less since 2004.
THE TALK: How many fans will flock to Ryan Field? Officials declined to predict but pointed to a season-ticket base that has grown to about 18,000 from 10,000 in 2009.
TEDDY GREENSTEIN’S PICK: South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier said of the Commodores: “They don’t have any slow dudes like they used to.” Vandy’s big-play receivers will haunt NU’s secondary.
Vanderbilt 30, NU 24.
