This week’s matchup between the Northern Illinois Huskies (8-3) and the Ohio Bobcats (7-4) will give the Huskies a chance to extend their six-game winning streak. This game will feature the MAC’s top rusher, Joel Bouagnon (1,175 yards, 18 TDs). Ohio comes into this game looking to get back on track. While the team had their share of success this season, it has struggled as of late, having lost three in a row. Players will take the field Tuesday, Nov 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET and the game will air on ESPU.
Northern Illinois beat Western Michigan 27-19 last week. Jordan Huff had an outstanding performance on the ground in the win, rushing for 159 yards and one TD on eight carries. Kenny Golladay had a big game as well, totaling 93 receiving yards and a TD on four receptions. Ohio also got the win in last week’s performance, beating Ball State 48-31. Jordan Reid had a big game for the Bobcats, registering four receptions for 112 yards and two TDs. Sebastian Smith also had a big day, contributing 89 receiving yards and a TD on seven receptions.
Northern Illinois is a 13-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is presently unavailable.
The Huskies enter the game with records of 8-3 Straight Up (SU) and 7-2-2 Against The Spread (ATS) this season. Over their last five games, the Huskies have records of 5-0 SU and 4-0-1 ATS. The Huskies have America’s 18th-ranked running attack with 225.9 yards per game. As for the Northern Illinois defense, there are important areas to keep an eye on. The Bobcats will be matching up against a stout Northern Illinois pass defense, which only allowed 243.6 passing yards over their last five matchups. One of the keys to the game will be how the Bobcats deal with Northern Illinois’s forceful defense. The defense ranks fourth in the nation in interceptions with 1.6 per game. Northern Illinois usually finishes games strong, averaging 11.4 points in the fourth quarter. On special teams, Northern Illinois has some playmakers. They average 128.8 return yards per game, seventh in Division I.
On the other side, the Bobcats have 7-4 SU and 7-3-1 ATS records this season. The Bobcats went 2-3 for both SU and ATS over the last five games. Ohio’s running backs and offensive linemen look to keep their rushing attack rolling. Over the past five games, they’ve managed an impressive 223.6 rushing yards per game. Lately, the Bobcats have had a better pass defense. They’re allowing only 221.2 passing YPG over their last five matchups.
Predictions: SU Winner – Northern Illinois, ATS Winner – Northern Illinois
Notes
Northern Illinois is 5-0-1 ATS in its last 6 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Northern Illinois’s last 6 games.
Northern Illinois is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games.
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Northern Illinois’s last 5 games at home.
Northern Illinois is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home.
Northern Illinois is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Ohio.
Ohio is 7-0 SU when leading at the start of the 4th quarter this season. Northern Illinois is 6-0 SU when carrying a lead into the fourth quarter.
Remarkably, Northern Illinois is winless (0-2) SU in games where it wins the turnover battle, yet 6-1 SU when losing the turnover battle.
The Northern Illinois rushing attack is ranked 18th in the nation, compared to the 62nd-ranked run defense of Ohio.
