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FACTS & STATS: Site: Ryan Field (49,256) -- Evanston, Illinois. Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: Rice 3-1, Northwestern 1-2. Away Record: Rice 2-5, Northwestern 3-3. Neutral Record: Rice 0-0, Northwestern 0-0. Conference Record: Rice 2-4, Northwestern 2-4. Series Record: Rice leads, 4-2.

GAME NOTES: Rice will travel north for a non-conference matchup this weekend against the Northwestern Wildcats, who are fresh off of an upset of the Nebraska Cornhuskers last Saturday.

Rice came alive offensively last weekend in a 41-37 win over UTEP, snapping a three-game losing streak (the Owls had lost five of six) and keeping Rice mathematically in the hunt for bowl eligibility with three games remaining. Rice needs to win out in meetings with Northwestern, Tulane and SMU to have a chance at the postseason.

Speaking of bowl eligibility, the Wildcats helped their chances tremendously with a shocking 28-25 win over Nebraska in Lincoln last weekend. The win was accompanied by a standout performance from their young versatile quarterback, and a collective defensive effort that kept the Huskers' strong rushing attack in check for most of the afternoon. Northwestern starts a three-game homestand this Saturday, meeting Rice, Minnesota and Michigan State to close out the regular season.

Rice leads the all-time series with Northwestern, 4-2, but the Wildcats claimed last seasons meeting 30-13.

Nick Fanuzzi was fantastic last weekend for Rice, completing 30-of-43 passing for 405 yards and three touchdowns in the win over UTEP. Turner Petersen and Tyler Smith also turned in strong outings on the ground for the Owls, rushing for 74 and 89 yards respectively. Petersen added a rushing touchdown, and Rice was efficient in moving the football all game, converting 13-of-20 on third down.

Fanuzzi has played second string to Taylor McHargue for much of the season, but his performance against UTEP was the second quality outing in three games for the senior signal caller. He threw for 234 yards and a touchdown against Tulsa on October 22. On the year, Fanuzzi has thrown for 787 yards and five touchdowns, while McHargue, a sophomore, has thrown for 1,072 yards with eight touchdowns against five interceptions. Vance McDonald leads the team in receiving, averaging 3.8 catches and 50.3 yards per game. Rice is tenth in the Conference USA is pass offense, averaging just 216 yards per game.

The rushing attack has been a pretty consistent force for the Owls all season. Rice is fourth in the league in rushing (165.2), and Smith is second among C- USA running backs with 66.5 yards rushing per game. Smith had 170 yards and two touchdowns two weeks ago against Houston. Petersen has rushed for 454 yards and five touchdowns this season.

Rice is 115th in the country in total defense (483.8) and 116th in scoring defense (37.5). A week after Houston hung 73 points on the Owls, the unit gave up 37 more points to UTEP - including 294 yards passing and three touchdowns from Miners quarterback Nick Lamaison. Rice's Bryce Callahan did pick Lamaison off twice, however, and leads the league in interceptions with five this season. Rice has 17 takeaways this season and are even in the overall turnover margin. The secondary has endured some growing pains in 2011, as Rice is 116th in the country in pass defense (289.4). Scott Solomon is sixth in the C-USA with 5.5 sacks, while Cameron Nwosu leads the team with 88 tackles.

Dan Persa, Trevor Siemian and Kain Colter all took snaps at quarterback for Northwestern against Nebraska; Persa went 9-of-14 for 79 yards and an interception, while Siemian completed three-of-four passes for 67 yards and one interception. Colter finished four-of-six for 115 yards and a touchdown in his role. Colter was all over the field as usual for the Wildcats, not just from under center. He rushed 17 times for 57 yards and two touchdowns, and added three catches for 57 yards. Colter accounts for 129.1 total yards per game, leading the team in rushing and is third in receiving. He has 516 yards rushing this season on 99 carries, with eight touchdowns. Northwestern is second in the Big Ten in passing efficiency (156.3) and Persa has thrown for 1,330 yards and nine touchdowns against four interceptions this season. The Wildcats are third in the Big Ten in total offense (435.7), and fifth in scoring (31.2).

The Northwestern defense faced a formidable challenge in Nebraska's running attack last weekend, but the Wildcats rose to the occasion. The unit allowed just 122 yards rushing, and the talented Huskers' running back Rex Burkhead was limited to a season low 69 yards. It was a signature performance for a team that is giving up 185.6 yards rushing per game, which is ninth in the Big Ten. Northwestern allows 429.3 yards per game, which is next to last in the league, and surrenders 307. points per game. David Nwabuisi leads the team in tackles with 7.6 per game.

Colter is quietly emerging as one of the Big Ten's best players, and he carved up a quality Nebraska defense on all fronts last weekend. Northwestern will have to keep Rice's passing game under control unlike UTEP last weekend, but Northwestern is at home, and is hungry to get into a bowl. This defense will turn in another stellar day in a win.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Northwestern 28, Rice 17