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FACTS & STATS: Site: Ryan Field Stadium (47,130) -- Evanston, Illinois. Television: BTN. Home Record: Miami-OH 0-1, Northwestern 2-1. Away Record: Miami-OH 0-3, Northwestern 1-1. Neutral Record: Miami-OH 0-1, Northwestern 0-0. Conference Record: Miami-OH 0-2, Northwestern 1-1. Series Record: Miami- Ohio leads, 6-2.

GAME NOTES: Still searching for their first victory, the RedHawks of Miami- Ohio will travel to Evanston to take on the Northwestern Wildcats this Saturday afternoon at Ryan Field Stadium.

It has been an embarrassing season for the RedHawks, who have dropped their first five games, and all five setbacks have come by a double-figure margin. This past weekend Miami-Ohio was no match for eighth-ranked Cincinnati, as the Bearcats dismantled the RedHawks, 37-13. Stacking up against non-conference opponents has been an issue for the RedHawks since the beginning of the 2006 season, as the team has dropped 14 of its last 16 out of conference battles.

As for the Wildcats, they snapped a small two-game slide with a hard-fought, 27-21 decision over Purdue this past weekend. Northwestern is 2-1 at home this year, and has posted a winning ledger at Ryan Field over the two previous seasons (9-5).

With regard to the all-time series between the two schools, the RedHawks have won six of the eight meetings, but one of the two wins for Northwestern came in the most recent showdown back in 2006, as the Wildcats defeated Miami-Ohio, 21-3.

The RedHawks' winless season can be attributed to the team's horrendous play offensively, as the team is producing just 334.2 total yards per matchup and that has translated to only 11.6 ppg. The ground game has been bottled up throughout the season, at just 80.8 ypg on a mere 2.7 yards per attempt. The lack of success on the ground has added pressure on the passing attack, which is led by Zac Dysert. Dysert, who took over as the starter for the inconsistent Daniel Raudabaugh, has not played well under center, throwing for just 698 yards and three scores against six interceptions. Against Cincinnati on Saturday, the RedHawks once again saw their ground game limited, as the Bearcats held Miami-Ohio to just 30 yards on 35 attempts. With the lack of run support, Dysert had to throw the ball early and often, and finished the contest with 286 yards and one touchdown on 33-of-47 passing. However, the signal caller was intercepted twice and sacked 10 times.

Compounding the problem for Miami-Ohio this season has been its inability to perform defensively, as the RedHawks come into this weekend surrendering 40.8 ppg, behind 396.6 total ypg. The defense has already surrendered 25 touchdowns (12 rushing and 13 passing) on the year, and has struggled against the run and pass, allowing 172.2 ypg on the ground, while also being torched for 224.4 ypg through the air. Surprisingly the defense has forced 10 turnovers (seven fumbles and three interceptions), but pressuring the quarterback has been a different story, with just four sacks in five games. The struggles defensively continued in the team's recent loss to Cincinnati, as the Bearcats pounded Miami-OH for 164 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The Wildcats enter this weekend averaging 31.8 ppg, but the majority of the team's success has come from the passing attack, which is producing 273.8 ypg through the air. Despite the tremendous success for Northwestern with its passing game, the offense has scored 11 of its 18 touchdowns via the run. The ground game though, has been plagued by inconsistency, rumbling for a modest 121.8 ypg on just 3.0 ypc. Arby Fields is currently pacing the team out of the backfield, but the tailback has just 163 yards and four touchdowns on 3.9 yards per attempt. Fields was limited to just 43 yards and one score in the recent win over Purdue, while Mike Kafka added 39 yards and also scored once on the ground. Kafka also threw for 224 yards on 28-of-44 efficiency in the win, and now has completed 70.1 percent of his throws this season for 1,273 yards, but has just five touchdowns against three interceptions.

The defense for the Wildcats has not been overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination, as the team comes into this contest allowing 26.2 ppg, on 344.6 total ypg. Northwestern has surrendered eight rushing touchdowns thus far, but the team has still limited opponents to just 118.0 ypg on only 3.6 yards per attempt. The defense has lived off the big play in the first five games of the season, collecting 13 takeaways, while also recording 11 sacks. The team's big play ability was very evident in the win over Purdue, as the Wildcats forced six turnovers and also grabbed three sacks. The defense did allow 313 yards through the air, but did a tremendous job against the run, bottling up the Boilermakers for just 62 yards on 2.2 yards per attempt. Quentin Davie had himself a successful showing in the win, racking up nine tackles, and one sack, while also forcing a fumble.

Miami-Ohio has been awful to start the season and the team has shown no signs of improving. With the lack of success and Northwestern's consistent effort on offense, this should be an easy home win for the Wildcats.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Northwestern 41, Miami-Ohio 13