The Northern Illinois Huskies (3-6, 2-3 MAC) travel to meet the host Toledo Rockets (6-3, 3-2) Wednesday night at the Glass Bowl in a nationally televised game. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
We analyze the Northern Illinois-Toledo odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.
Northern Illinois at Toledo: Three things you need to know
1. Toledo can move within a half-game of first-place Western Michigan in the MAC’s West Division with a victory, joining Central Michigan at 4-2 in the conference. The Rockets already beat WMU and play CMU on Nov. 29.
2. Northern Illinois is coming off a 48-10 humbling at CMU, and the Huskies are 1-5 straight up and 3-3 against the spread on the road this season.
3. Toledo ranks 12th in the nation with 249.9 yards per game on the ground, but leading rusher RB Bryant Koback (leg) and dual-threat starting QB Mitchell Guadagni (undisclosed) are each question marks due to injuries. Koback was injured in the first half vs. Kent State last week, but RB Shakif Seymour stepped up and rumbled for a career-high 175 yards.
Get some action on this game or others by placing a bet at BetMGM!
Northern Illinois at Toledo: Odds, betting lines and picks
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Tuesday at 7:55 p.m. ET.
Prediction
Toledo 23, Northern Illinois 20
Moneyline (ML)
TOLEDO (-129) is a tad risky with injury issues to their two biggest offensive stars. However, the pregame notes show Koback listed as the starting tailback. Even if he cannot go, Seymour did a good job carrying the mail against the Golden Flashes last week. And QB Eli Peters stepped up with 332 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception while posting a 2-0 record in the past two games in place of Guadagni. So he, too, is more than capable if needed.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Toledo returns a profit of $7.75.
Against the Spread (ATS)
Until there are zeroes on the clock you will not feel completely at ease with a play of TOLEDO (-2.5, -106). NIU (+2.5, -115) is barely hanging on this season, needing three straight wins to finish at 6-6 and gain bowl eligibility. The Huskies are a proud team that will not go easily into the night; however, they just do not have the guns this season, and they were blasted 48-10 in Mount Pleasant last week by a team with similar talent to Toledo.
Over/Under (O/U)
The UNDER (53.5, -110) is a good play in this one, as Toledo’s strength is on the run game and thus regardless of whether Koback plays, the Rockets will be running. Teams that are run-heavy are friends of the ‘under’ bettor, as that chews up clock. NIU is a marginal offense, ranking 98th in total yards, so that helps the under, too.
Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.
Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.
Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services. Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.
[lawrence-newsletter]
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1623]