Category: Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois vs Buffalo Prediction, Game Preview

Northern Illinois vs Buffalo prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win Wednesday night.

Northern Illinois vs Buffalo prediction, game preview, how to watch: Wednesday, November 17

Northern Illinois vs Buffalo How To Watch

Date: Wednesday, November 17
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: UB Stadium, Buffalo, NY
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: Northern Illinois (7-3), Buffalo (4-6)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+
– Today’s Best Bet to Lock in Now

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Northern Illinois vs Buffalo Game Preview

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

It’s right there for the taking. Win this, win the MAC West and go play for the conference championship.

The defense has been a tad sketchy over the last few weeks, but the offense has found the explosion through the air now that everyone has loaded up to stop the run.

Buffalo can’t stop any of it.

The Bulls are getting roasted through the air over the last two weeks – you’re doing something wrong if you’re getting blown up by Bowling Green and Miami University – but this should be about the run defense. UB gives up 200 yards per game on the ground with too much ease.

– College Football Expert Picks, CFN Week 12

Why Buffalo Will Win

The Buffalo offense has to keep up at home.

It went bye-bye last week in the blowout loss to Miami University, but it rolled for close to 500 yards against Bowling Green after coming up with 454 against Akron.

Okay, so big days on those two might not seem like that bit a deal, but the Northern Illinois pass defense doesn’t make enough big things happen and the run D was rolled by Ball State and Kent State for over 600 yards over the last two weeks.

What’s Going To Happen

Can Buffalo keep its bowl hopes alive – it needs to win this and beat Ball State next week – all while making Northern Illinois work for the West? It’ll be up in the first half as it comes out smoking in the final home game of the season.

But the Huskies will get the passing game going in the second half as Rocky Lombardi stays hot after a fantastic last three weeks. The balance will kick in late with two big scoring drives to finally pull away.

– College Football Schedule: Week 12 Predictions, Lines

Northern Illinois vs Buffalo Prediction, Lines

Northern Illinois 38, Buffalo 34
Line: Northern Illinois -1.5, o/u: 62.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 3

5: Tummyache Soak
1: Adele 30

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Rankings AP | Coaches | CFN 1-130 Rankings
Bowl Projections | Heisman Race
College Football Playoff Chase, Who’s Alive?
Coach Hot Seat Top 10 | Bowl Bubble: Who’s In, Out

MAC Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, How To Watch: Week 11

MAC Week 11 college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines, how to watch, and TV listings.

MAC college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines, how to watch, and TV listings for Week 11 of the season.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

Click on each game for game preview & prediction

MAC Results So Far
SU: 61-18, ATS: 42-35, Point Total: 40-37-2

Tuesday, November 9

Akron at Western Michigan

7:00, CBS Sports Network
Line: Western Michigan -26, o/u: 62

Buffalo at Miami University

7:00, ESPNU
Line: Miami University -7, o/u: 57.5

Ohio at Eastern Michigan

8:00, ESPN2
Line: Eastern Michigan -6, o/u: 60.5

– College Football Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews, Week 11

Wednesday, November 10

Ball State at Northern Illinois

7:00, ESPN2
Prediction: Northern Illinois 30, Ball State 27
Line: Ball State -2.5, o/u: 62.5

Toledo at Bowling Green

7:00, CBS Sports Network
Prediction: Toledo 41, Bowling Green 24
Line: Toledo -10.5, o/u: 50.5

Kent State at Central Michigan

8:00, ESPNU
Prediction: Central Michigan 41, Kent State 37
Line: Central Michigan -2.5, o/u: 74.5

– College Football Expert Picks, CFN Week 11

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Fearless Predictions of Every Game
– Bowl Projections | Rankings

Ball State vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

Ball State vs Northern Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Wednesday night.

Ball State vs Northern Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch: Wednesday, November 10

Ball State vs Northern Illinois How To Watch

Date: Wednesday, November 10
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Huskies Stadium, DeKalb, IL
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: Ball State (5-4), Northern Illinois (6-3)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+
– Today’s Best Bet to Lock in Now

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Ball State vs Northern Illinois Game Preview

Why Ball State Will Win

Ball State hasn’t been quite constant enough, the running game has been hit-or-miss, and the defense has several flaws that could quickly be exposed by Northern Illinois, but it’s here.

It’s here with a chance to take full control over the MAC West race, and for a program that got the job done with a 2020 MAC Championship, it’s not going to be be fazed by the moment.

That’s all well and good, but can the defensive front hold up against the run? That’s what Northern Illinois does so very, very well, and it’s going to need to pound away to win.

The Cardinals have problems with the good passing games, but they’ve been great against the run – they haven’t allowed more than 130 yards in any of the last four games. They’re just good enough to come up with stops early to force tough third down chances, and that’s a problem for a Huskie team that doesn’t move the chains.

– College Football Expert Picks, CFN Week 11

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

All is not lost for Northern Illinois with a loss, but a win puts them – at worst – 1.5 games up on everyone close in the MAC West race with three to play.

Yeah, it likes to run, and yeah, that’s how everything works best, but Rocky Lombardi and the passing attack have gone off over the last two weeks with 351 yards against Central Michigan and 532 in the wild shootout loss to Kent State.

The offense is more versatile than it seems, but when it runs for 165 yards or more it’s 6-1. The team lives for controlling the clock, it’s going to have the ball for well over 35 minutes against a fast-paced Cardinal team.

What’s Going To Happen

Can Northern Illinois finally come through with the big win the program has been waiting to come up with in the Thomas Hammock era?

It’s been a push and a rebuilding job to get here, and now it’s very, very close to making a trip to the MAC Championship with just two more wins.

Ball State has the experience, talent, and make-up to pull this off, but Northern Illinois will do a strong job of controlling the clock and the game.

– College Football Schedule: Week 11 Predictions, Lines

Ball State vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Lines

Northern Illinois 30, Ball State 27
Line: Ball State -2.5, o/u: 62.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 4

5: House of Gucci
1: Yellowstone

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Fearless Predictions of Every Game
– Bowl Projections | Rankings

Northern Illinois vs Kent State Prediction, Game Preview

Northern Illinois vs Kent State prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – wins on Wednesday night.

Northern Illinois vs Kent State prediction, game preview, how to watch: Wednesday November 3

Northern Illinois vs Kent State How To Watch

Date: Wednesday, November 3
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Dix Stadium, Kent, OH
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: Northern Illinois (6-2), Kent State (4-4)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Northern Illinois vs Kent State Game Preview

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

So how can Northern Illinois stop the high-powered Kent State attack that goes 100 miles per hour?

Slowwwwwwwwww it down.

Duh, that’s what everyone tries to do, but Northern Illinois can actually do it.

Western Michigan isn’t necessarily an offensive juggernaut. It comes up with a whole lot of yards but not a lot of points – it hung 64 on Kent State. And why?

It had the ball for 37:41 and rolled up 648 yards of total offense. It was able to do what it does better, only slower.

Northern Illinois can keep the ball for close to 34 minutes per game, and it does it with a pounding ground game behind an offensive line that’s the best in the MAC.

The Huskies will get off the bus with 250 rushing yards against the Kent State D. However …

– College Football Expert Picks, CFN Week 10

Why Kent State Will Win

Kent State is used to it.

It’s more than happy to give the offense some rest so it can go on a sprint.

QB Dustin Crum has been running this offense for forever and doesn’t screw up – he threw two picks in the opener against Texas A&M and hasn’t given one away since.

The defense might not be anything special, but it’s amazing at generating takeaways – 19 on the year with two or more in six of the eight games – and again, Crum and company don’t turn it over.

Kent Stat leads the nation in turnover margin, it’ll be +2 against the Huskies, and it should be able to answer long scoring drives with fast, efficient ones. It all comes down to …

– NFL Expert Picks, CFN Week 9

What’s Going To Happen

Can the Kent State defense ever get off the field if it’s not forcing takeaways?

Northern Illinois does a whole lot of grinding, but it doesn’t convert a whole lot of third down tries. That won’t be too much of an issue against a defense that allowed 12 rushing touchdowns in the last three games and three, 300-yard rushing days.

Northern Illinois won’t win the MAC West with this, but it’ll come very, very close. Kent State will still be okay with the tough loss – it’ll almost certainly meet the Huskies again in a few weeks for the MAC title.

– College Football Schedule: Week 10 Predictions, Lines

Northern Illinois vs Kent State Prediction, Lines

Northern Illinois 38, Kent State 34
Line: Kent State -3.5, o/u: 68.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Belfast
1: Ghostbusters: Afterlife

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Fearless Predictions of Every Game
– Bowl Projections | Rankings

Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan Prediction, Game Preview

Northern Illinois Huskies vs Central Michigan Chippewas prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines: Saturday, October 23

Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 23

Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 23
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Kelly/Shorts Stadium, Mount Pleasant, MI
How To Watch: ESPNU
Record: Northern Illinois (5-2), Central Michigan (4-3)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan Game Preview

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

Is Northern Illinois really ready to make a big step forward in the MAC race? It all starts with ten running game.

It took a few years, but this is how the program is supposed to roll with 240 rushing yards or more on the ground against everyone but Michigan and Georgia Tech.

It’s getting a massive year out of its offensive front, the O controls games by dominating the time of possession battle, and the formula might just be good enough to counteract Central Michigan’s biggest strengths.

Can the Chippewas stop the run? Sort of, but it hasn’t played too many teams that gave it much of a shot. Central Michigan allows more than four yards per carry, and …

– Week 8 CFN College Football Expert Picks

Why Central Michigan Will Win

The defensive front is great at getting into the backfield.

Northern Illinois might be outstanding at preventing defenses from getting to the quarterback, but Troy Hairston and company are about to provide a huge test.

The Chippewas lead the MAC in tackles for loss and are second in sacks – they’re going to be happy to make Northern Illinois try to win this through the air.

– Week 8 College Football Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Both teams have been involved in tight battle after tight battle. Five of the seven Northern Illinois games were decided bay a touchdown or less, and three of the last four Central Michigan games have been close.

The Northern Illinois ground game will control the clock and the tempo for a while, but the Central Michigan defense is too good at getting off the field – it’s outstanding on third downs.

The Huskies will have to throw the ball late, and it’s not going to work.

– CFN Week 7 NFL Expert Picks

Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan Prediction, Line

Central Michigan 27, Northern Illinois 23
Line: Central Michigan -5.5, o/u: 56.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5
– 10 Best Picks Against The Spread: Week 8

Must See Rating: 3

5: Succession
1: Dancing with the Stars: Grease Night

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Fearless Predictions of Every Game
– Bowl Projections | Rankings

Bowling Green vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

Bowling Green vs Northern Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 16

Bowling Green vs Northern Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 16

Bowling Green vs Northern Illinois How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 16
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, IL
How To Watch: ESPN+
Record: Bowling Green (2-4), Northern Illinois (4-2)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Bowling Green vs Northern Illinois Game Preview

Why Bowling Green Will Win

The passing attack is okay.

It’s not the high-flying fun show it probably should be at this point in the Scot Loeffler era, and it’s not good enough to make up for the lack of a running game, but it’s been able to get past the 250-yard mark with enough regularity to matter.

The biggest improvement has been defensively, with the secondary not allowing more than 270 yards yet this year, and it won’t do it against Northern Illinois, either. But …

– Week 7 CFN College Football Expert Picks

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

The Huskie ground game is working.

It took a few years to build it back up, but Thomas Hammock’s offense has the second-best rushing attack in the MAC behind Kent State, cranking up 240 yards or more in four of the last five games, only avoiding getting there against Michigan.

The Bowling Green defense allowed 262 yards to Kent State and got hammered by Tennessee, but it’s been okay against everyone else, including the stunning win against Minnesota.

The Huskies can throw just enough to keep things moving, but it’ll be the rushing attack that should take over.

– Week 7 College Football Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Northern Illinois should be able to control the game, there’s no rushing attack from Bowling Green to worry about, and as good as the passing game has been lately on the other side, there’s nothing big happening down the field.

The Huskies will make it four wins in a row.

– CFN Week 6 NFL Expert Picks

Bowling Green vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Line

Northern Illinois 26, Bowling Green 20
Line: Northern Illinois -9.5, o/u: 45
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2.5

Must See Rating: 2

5: Caramel apple anything
1: Pumpkin spice anything

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Fearless Predictions of Every Game
– Bowl Projections | Rankings

Toledo vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

Northern Illinois vs Toledo prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 9

Northern Illinois vs Toledo prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 9

Northern Illinois vs Toledo How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 9
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH
How To Watch: CBS Sports Network
Record: Northern Illinois (3-2), Toledo (3-2)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Northern Illinois vs Toledo Game Preview

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

That’s the Northern Illinois running game we’ve all been waiting for.

It’s what the program has been built on, and it’s been great over the last few weeks with 292 yards against Maine and a 242-yard performance against Eastern Michigan – winning both games.

The offense is finishing off its deep drives with points, it’s controlling the clock, and the offensive front is fantastic in pass protection.

Speaking of running games …

– Week 6 CFN College Football Expert Picks

Why Toledo Will Win

Now it’s all starting to work.

Toledo needs to run well to win, and it didn’t do that against Notre Dame and Colorado State. The offensive line has to take over the game right away, and the running game has to get to 200 yards.

3-0 when it does that, it has to barrel through a Northern Illinois defense that allowed over 200 yards twice and 191 to Wyoming.

On the other side, Toledo’s defense is the best in the MAC at getting into the backfield, which is partly why it leads the league allowing fewer than 300 yards per game.

– Week 6 College Football Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Toledo will run better.

The Northern Illinois run defense will come up with a few good stops early on, but it’ll wear down as the game goes on. Toledo has only allowed more than 150 rushing yards once this year. Northern Illinois will give up two bills on the ground.

– Week 5 CFN NFL Expert Picks

Northern Illinois vs Toledo Prediction, Line

Toledo 27, Northern Illinois 23
Line: Toledo -13, o/u: 52
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: When Facebook and Instagram are down
1: The Bradshaw Bunch

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Fearless Predictions of Every Game
– Bowl Projections | Rankings

Eastern Michigan vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

Eastern Michigan vs Northern Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 2

Eastern Michigan vs Northern Illinois prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, October 2

Eastern Michigan vs Northern Illinois How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 2
Game Time: 2:30 ET
Venue: Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, IL
How To Watch: ESPN+
Record: Eastern Michigan (2-2), Northern Illinois (3-1)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Eastern Michigan vs Northern Illinois Game Preview

Why Eastern Michigan Will Win

The competition might not be anything amazing since getting roasted by Wisconsin – beating UMass and Texas State – but the two games might have sharpened things up.

The Eagles were almost perfectly balanced offensively against the Bobcats last week. This week they have to own third downs and mix it up against a Northern Illinois team that’s awful on third down defense and doesn’t have the passing attack to keep up if it gets down fast.

– Week 5 CFN College Football Expert Picks

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

Why are the Huskies 2-2? They’re getting great play from the offensive front.

They’re not allowing sacks, they’re pounding away for a ground game that hit the 160-yard mark in every game and averages 216 yards per outing.

The Eastern Michigan defensive front couldn’t hold up against Wisconsin, but it gave up over 200 yards against UMass, too. The Huskies should be able to run enough to throw the Eagles off of their game.

– Week 5 College Football Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

It’s a good game that should help sort out the MAC pecking order just as the conference season is getting going.

Neither team is perfect, and consistency hasn’t always been the norm outside of EMU’s balance lately, but both of them should play an even and good battle.

Northern Illinois doesn’t have enough of a pass rush to bother the Eagle backfield, but the running game will make up for it. The difference will be with the kicking game – NIU has the better placekicker.

– Week 4 CFN NFL Expert Picks

Eastern Michigan vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Line

Northern Illinois 30, Eastern Michigan 28
Line: Northern Illinois -1.5, o/u: 61
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3

5: ‘The Low End Theory’ 30th anniversary
1: Not knowing how David Letterman rolls

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Fearless Predictions of Every Game
– Bowl Projections | Rankings

Northern Illinois vs Maine Prediction, Game Preview

Northern Illinois vs Maine prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, September 25

Northern Illinois vs Maine prediction, game preview, how to watch: Saturday, September 25

Northern Illinois vs Maine How To Watch

Date: Saturday, September 25
Game Time: 2:30 ET
Venue: Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, IL
How To Watch: ESPN3
Record: Northern Illinois (1-2), Maine (1-2)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Northern Illinois vs Maine Game Preview

Why Maine Will Win

Can the Black Bears get the pass rush going just enough to be a bother, and can they run well enough to control the game a bit.

They’ve been a bit all over the map so far with a decent win over Merrimack, and strong loss to a good Delaware team, and a blowout loss to a great James Madison. They’ve got enough on both sides of the ball to hang around.

Northern Illinois hasn’t been able to do much to get the defense off the field and has the worst run D in the FBS, but …

– Week 4 College Football Expert Picks

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

Maine isn’t running like Michigan, and Wyoming went off in a big firefight.

The Huskies are playing far better than they have in a few years, and it starts with the improvement on the offensive line.

Maine can get into the backfield a bit, but it’s not going to do anything to consistently bother NIU QB Rocky Lombardi – he needs all the time he can get.

– Week 4 College Football Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

NIU appears to have found something in Harrison Waylee, a freshman running back with the upside to take over games.

The Huskies will average over five yards per carry, the dense will enjoy the relative week off after a rough first three games, and head coach Thomas Hammock will have the team at 2-2 before diving into the MAC season.

– Week 3 NFL Expert Picks

Northern Illinois vs Maine Prediction, Line

Northern Illinois 36, Maine 17
Line: Northern Illinois -20, o/u: 59
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2

5: Muhammad Ali film by Ken Burns
1: Dear Evan Hansen

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Fearless Predictions of Every Game
– Bowl Projections | Rankings

Michigan vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

Michigan vs Northern Illinois prediction and game preview. Saturday, September 18

Michigan vs Northern Illinois prediction and game preview.

Michigan vs Northern Illinois Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 18
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: BTN
Network: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI
– Sign up and stream college football all season long on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Michigan (2-0) vs Northern Illinois (1-1) Game Preview

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

The offense is working.

After a rough few years and a bad start to the Thomas Hammock era, the Huskies got by Georgia Tech on the road to start the season, and kept up in a wild 50-43 loss to Wyoming last week.

The O is hitting on third down tries, the offensive line is playing better than it has in a few years, and there’s a rushing attack now.

It also helps to have a Big Ten quarterback under center. Former Michigan State starter Rocky Lombardi has brought a passing game to the mix. He knows Michigan, throwing for 323 yards and three touchdowns in last year’s win for the Spartans.

However …

– Week 3 College Football Expert Picks

Why Michigan Will Win

Rocky Lombardi throws picks.

He was terrific against the Wolverines last season, but he threw nine picks in six games. He kept everything in check against the Yellow Jackets and kept things moving, and …

He threw three interceptions against Wyoming.

Michigan has been fantastic in the first two games. The rushing attack is rolling, the defensive front is solid, and the O has a quarterback in Cade McNamara to build around.

– Week 3 College Football Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

Northern Illinois is just plucky enough to be annoying.

The offense is good enough to go on a few scoring drives, but the mistakes will come.

Michigan is playing with confidence, efficiency, and with the lines taking over games. It’ll take a quarter to wake up and get going, and then the scoring avalanche will come.

– Week 2 NFL Expert Picks

Michigan vs Northern Illinois Prediction, Line

Michigan 41, Northern Illinois 16
Line: Michigan -27, o/u: 54
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 2

5: Steve is proud of you
1: Ordinary Joe

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Fearless Predictions of Every Game
– Bowl Projections | Rankings