Western Michigan vs. NIU Prediction
Will Western Michigan punch its ticket to the MAC Championship Game tonight when the Broncos go on the road to face Northern Illinois at 7PM ET?
Game Snapshot & Odds
303 Western Michigan vs. 304 Northern Illinois
Friday, November 29, 2019
7PM ET – Huskie Stadium
TV: ESPNU
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Public Betting Trends
According to the latest oddsmakers, Western Michigan is favored on the road, as the Broncos are getting odds of -7.5 points against NIU. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 51 points. The public betting currently has 82 percent going on Western Michigan as the road favorite. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NCAAF Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Broncos finding ways to win
Western Michigan is on a three-game win streak heading into tonight following a 37-34 OT win at Ohio on Nov. 12. The Broncos are 7-4 on the year, 5-2 in the MAC, 6-5 against the spread and 6-4-1 with the under. With a win, Western Michigan will advance to next week’s MAC Championship Game.
The Broncos have been led this year by their powerful offense. They are averaging 36 points and 467.2 yards per game. Defensively, Western Michigan is giving up 27 points and 429.5 yards per contest. LeVante Bellamy has been leading the team this year with 1,284 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. Quarterback Jon Wassink has thrown for 2,719 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Giovanni Ricci is the leading receiver with 45 catches for 611 yards and eight touchdowns. Treshaun Hayward leads the WMU defense with 127 tackles and five sacks.
Huskies flip-flopping
Northern Illinois is coming off a 45-17 loss at home to Eastern Michigan last week. The Huskies have alternated wins and losses over their last seven games. NIU comes into tonight’s game 4-7 on the season, 3-4 in the MAC, 6-5 against the spread and 7-4 with the over.
NIU hasn’t been very good on either side of the ball. The defense is allowing 29.5 points and 392 yards per game. Offensively, Northern Illinois is putting up 23.4 points and 368.8 yards per contest. Ross Bowers has thrown or 2,130 yards and seven touchdowns this year, but he is out tonight due to a concussion. Marcus Childers will get the start. He has thrown for 388 yards and five scores this season. Tre Harbison is the team’s leading rusher with 1,021 yards and eight touchdowns while Childers has rushed for 312 yards and five scores. Cole Tucker is the leading receiver with 38 catches for 531 yards and a score.
College Football Betting Trends
Western Michigan
The Broncos are just 1-6 against the spread in their last seven road games and 1-7 ATS in their last eight games following a win.
Northern Illinois
The Huskies have covered the spread in five straight games following a failed cover and 4-1 ATS in their last five games following a loss.
Prediction:
The home team has won four straight between these two, but the Broncos have covered the spread in the last two encounters. Western Michigan is certainly playing well right now, but can the Broncos pull away from NIU on the road? Their road performances have been poor. Ohio was the first road win and that was in OT. The Huskies are coming off getting beat up at home by Eastern Michigan, but NIU is still a proud program that would love to spoil WMU’s conference title hopes on their home turf. I think they find a way to keep this close and possibly win it outright. The MAC is a strange conference this time of year and can be very unpredictable.
College Football Week 14 Prediction: Northern Illinois +7.5