NIU vs. Western Michigan Prediction
Will Northern Illinois bounce back from last week’s loss when it goes on the road to face Western Michigan this evening at 7PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
101 Northern Illinois at 102 Western Michigan
Tuesday, November 20, 2018
7PM ET – Waldo Stadium
TV: ESPNU
Public Betting Trends
According to oddsmakers at BetNow.eu, Northern Illinois is favored on the road, as the Huskies are getting odds of -6.5 points against Western Michigan. The over/under total for the game is currently listed at 51 points. The public betting currently has 64 percent going on Northern Illinois on the road.
Northern Illinois ends win streak
The Northern Illinois football team had its six-game win streak come to an end last week when it fell at home to Miami-Ohio, 13-7. The Huskies are still going to the MAC Championship next week, as it is 6-1 in the MAC and 7-4 overall. NIU is 6-5 against the spread and 9-2 with the under. The Huskies had a three-game cover streak snapped last week.
NIU has been very strong on defense, while struggling on offense. The Huskies are allowing just 20.3 points and 340.8 yards per game, including only 108.2 rushing yards per contest. On offense, NIU is averaging just 19.8 points and 323.1 yards per game. Their ground game is steady, but their pass game is definitely lacking. Marcus Childers has thrown for 1,540 yards and 10 touchdowns, but has seven interceptions. He has rushed for 385 yards and five touchdowns as well. Tre Harbison is the team’s leading rusher with 907 yards and four scores.
Broncos on a skid
Western Michigan is riding a three-game losing streak right now following a 42-41 loss at Ball State last week. The Broncos are 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the MAC. WMU is 3-8 against the spread this season and 6-5 with the over. WMU has failed to cover in three straight and six of its last seven.
The Broncos are giving up 34.5 points and 389.1 yards per game on defense this year. Their run defense is allowing 175 yards per contest. Offensively, Western Michigan is putting up 33.6 points and 453.4 yards per game this year. Jon Wassink had thrown for 1,994 yards and 16 touchdowns, but he suffered a season-ending foot injury. Kaleb Eleby has taken over for him and has thrown for 632 yards and four touchdowns. LeVante Bellamy is leading the offense with 1,120 yards and six touchdowns while Jamauri Bogan has run for 639 yards and 13 touchdowns.
College Football Betting Trends
Northern Illinois
The Huskies are 38-18-3 against the spread in their last 59 road games, but just 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Tuesday games.
Western Michigan
Western Michigan is 1-4 ATS in its last five at home and 1-4 ATS in its last five against a winning team.
Prediction:
Northern Illinois has struggled to pull away from most opponents and the Huskies don’t really have anything to play for tonight. NIU already has its ticket punched for next week’s MAC Championship. They will be looking to come out of this game healthy. Western Michigan is at home for its finale and should be motivated to play well. While riding a three game losing streak, the Broncos still have an offense that should give NIU some trouble. The Huskies just don’t have an offense that I trust to really pull away on the road.
College Football Prediction: Western Michigan +6.5