TV/radio: 11 a.m. Saturday; ESPNEWS; WGWG-FM 87.7.
Line: Off.
Records: Western Illinois 2-1; Northwestern 0-2.
Last meeting: First.
On the offensive: The Leathernecks run a hurry-up spread. Tailback J.C. Baker averages 5.5 yards per carry and Trenton Norvell has five touchdown passes, but the offense did nothing (three points, 162 yards) against Wisconsin.
Getting defensive: The Leathernecks crowded the box and ran stunts to hold the Badgers’ Melvin Gordon to 38 rushing yards. But they also made quarterback Tanner McEvoy (23 for 28) look like an All-American.
The number: 1992. The last time Northwestern began the season 0-3.
The talk: Not that fall camp was soft or anything, but Northwestern’s veteran players asked coach Pat Fitzgerald to ride them in practice. He has obliged.
Teddy Greenstein’s pick: All those “up-downs” in practice won’t make Venric Mark reappear.
Northwestern 27, Western Illinois 14.
