When: 7 p.m. today
Where: Sun Devil Stadium
TV/Announcers: None
Radio: KTAR (620 AM); ESPN (860 AM)
Records: Northwestern 2-0, ASU 1-1
Rankings: Northwestern unranked; ASU No. 18
Associated Press/No. 22 USA Today (coaches)
Series: ASU leads 1-0
Last meeting: Sept. 11, 2004 — ASU 30, Northwestern 21
Line: Sun Devils by 141⁄2
Tickets: Available at the Sun Devil Stadium ticket
office, by calling (480) 965-2381 or (888) 786-3857
or online at www.thesundevils.com
SUN DEVILS KEYS TO VICTORY
1. Stop the run:
Northwestern is sure to give the Sun
Devils a healthy dose of running back
Tyrell Sutton and quarterback Brett
Basanez carrying the ball. If the
Wildcats can run, they
will score — and as the
underdog, a shootout
helps their chances
the most.
2. Read and recognize:
The Wildcats’ defense tries to
create confusion with a
movement-heavy 3-5-3 formation, so
ASU quarterback Sam Keller’s reads and
checks, the offensive line blocking
schemes and the backfield blitz pickups
will need to be executed effectively.
3. Be kicking-game sound:
Those special-teams screw-ups
from last week’s game against
Louisiana State — particularly the
field-goal protection — need to be
shored up.
INJURY REPORT
Northwestern
OUT: LB Chris Jeske (back); OT Alex Rucks (knee)
DOUBTFUL: RB Terrell Jordan (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE:
WR Kim Thompson (finger); DE Carey Wootton (neck)
PROBABLE: S Herschel Henderson (hamstring); LB Tim
McGarigle (calf); LB Nick Roach (hernia)
Arizona State
DOUBTFUL: DE Kyle Caldwell (quadriceps); CB Chad
Green (undisclosed); RB Randy Hill (ankle); RB Preston
Jones (undisclosed); TE Zach Miller (ankle); WR Terry
Richardson (shoulder) QUESTIONABLE: CB R.J. Oliver
(quadriceps) PROBABLE: RB Rudy Burgess (back); RB
Cornell Canidate (hamstring)
AT STAKE
For the Sun Devils, it is a chance to put the awful taste
of the LSU loss behind them and tune up for the start
of Pac-10 play next week. A return to the top 20 in both
polls is likely with a victory. Northwestern opened up
with home games against Mid-American Conference
teams, so this is its chance-to-make-a-statement
intersectional game.
WHEN ASU HAS THE BALL
It should be more of the same from the first two games.
Northwestern is not as stiff against the run as
Louisiana State, so Sun Devils quarterback Sam Keller
will likely not have to throw 56 passes. With ASU minus
one of its starting wideouts and its first-string tight end,
a parade of receivers will likely be used. If freshman
tailback Keegan Herring can get some extended work,
that would be a bonus.
Key matchup: ASU WR Derek Hagan vs.
Northwestern CB Marquice Cole — The
Wildcats’ defense often lines up with
eight men up front, meaning their
cornerbacks are on an island. That is
music to the ears of Hagan, but he
could still be tested by Cole, a smaller
player who possesses great speed and
leaping ability.
WHEN NORTHWESTERN HAS THE BALL
While a lot of teams that use the spread offense look
to pass first and strike quickly, the Wildcats employ it
to free up the run and chew up time. Quarterback
Brett Basanez, who will make his 31st straight start
today, is a threat to run or pass, and his read and
recognition skills have improved since ASU last
played Northwestern. Freshman running back
Tyrell Sutton, he of the 214 yards and four
touchdowns last week, is sure to get his carries. The
receiving corps has been steady, but not spectacular.
Key matchup: Northwestern QB Brett Basanez
vs. ASU MLB Dale Robinson — Basanez
figures to collide often with Robinson,
physically and mentally. Robinson will
line up in a variety of positions and show
blitz at times, so Basanez must be
constantly aware of where he is — and, if
need be, audible the Wildcats into a safer
play.
SCOUTING THE WILDCATS
Today’s college freshmen are almost too young to
remember when Northwestern football was a joke. The
Wildcats have won or shared three Big Ten titles in the
past 10 years, second only to Michigan. However, with
just one bowl appearance the last four seasons, there
has been a lull. Coach Randy Walker, who preaches
hard work and discipline, could get the team back to the
postseason in 2005 if the defense holds up.
