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)
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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.

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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.

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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

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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)
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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 …

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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 …

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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.

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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

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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)
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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 …

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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.

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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.

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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
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Must See Rating: 3

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

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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)
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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 …

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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.

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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.

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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

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Northern Illinois Huskies: CFN College Football Preview 2021

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Northern Illinois season with what you need to know.

College Football News Preview 2021: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Northern Illinois Huskies season with what you need to know.


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– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Northern Illinois Schedule Analysis
– Northern Illinois Previews
2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

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2020 Record: 0-6 overall, 0-6 in MAC
Head Coach: Thomas Hammock, 3rd year, 5-13
2020 CFN Final Ranking: 122
2020 CFN Preview Ranking: 117
2019 CFN Final Ranking: 92

Northern Illinois College Football Preview 2021: Offense

The offense struggled. It found ways to score, but it couldn’t move the chains, the running game never got going, and the passing attack wasn’t strong enough to make up for the issues. Northern Illinois would love to get back to being Northern Illinois and start pounding again, but …

Northern Illinois was really young. Now the payoff should come up front with all five starting linemen expected back to pave the way for Harrison Waylee and Erin Collins – the top two running backs from last year. Now the ground game needs to do more than 3.45 yards per carry – and it should.

– Can Rocky Lombardi be the answer? The Michigan State transfer should be the main man at quarterback, but redshirt freshman Dustin Fletcher got in enough work last year to be a part of the puzzle. The top three wide receivers are back – led by senior Tyrice Richie, coming off a 53-catch, 597-yard, four-score season – but they all need to stretch the field more.

– What You Need To Know: Defense
Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Northern Illinois Schedule Analysis

NEXT: Northern Illinois College Football Preview 2021: Defense

College Football News Preview 2020: Northern Illinois Huskies

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, looking ahead to the Northern Illinois Huskies season with what you need to know

College Football News Preview 2020: Previewing, predicting, and looking ahead to the Northern Illinois Huskies season with what you need to know.


Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

– What You Need To Know: Offense | Defense
Top Players | Key Players, Games, Stats
What Will Happen, Win Total Prediction
Schedule Analysis
– Northern Illinois Previews 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015

2019 Record: 5-7 overall, 4-4 in MAC
Head Coach: Thomas Hammock, 2nd year, 5-7
2019 CFN Final Opinion Ranking: 112
2019 CFN Final Season Formula Ranking: 92
2019 CFN Preview Ranking: 88

No one knows what’s going to happen to the 2020 college football season. We’ll take a general look at where each team stands – doing it without spring ball to go by – while crossing our fingers that we’ll all have some well-deserved fun this fall. Hoping you and yours are safe and healthy.

5. College Football News Preview 2020: Northern Illinois Huskies Offense 3 Things To Know

Northern Illinois football has been about running it behind a great offensive line, getting an efficient enough passing game to get by, and controlling the clock and tempo.

The time of possession side of things was great under new head coach Thomas Hammock, but that was about it for an O that finished 104th in the nation overall, averaged just 23 points per game, and didn’t get the running game going well enough. In comes South Dakota State offensive coordinator Eric Eidsness to try changing all of that with a bit more of a wide-open attack.

It’s going to take a whole lot of work.


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Northern Illinois at Iowa, Sept. 26
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The running game worked around Tre Harbison and his 1,021 yards and eight touchdowns. Now he’s a Charlotte 49er. QB Marcus Childers was the second-leading rusher – he’s gone, too.

Jordan Nettles is back, though, as a 177-pound speed option who ran for 274 yards – that’s about it. Freshman Jevyon Ducker and JUCO transfer Erin Collins will get their shot for an O that has to find a main man from out of all the young running back options.

The O line wasn’t up to its normal Northern Illinois snuff, and now it has to be better with center CJ Perez off to Temple. There’s experience coming back, starting with senior Benn Olson at one guard spot and 6-6, 317-pound sophomore Marques Cox working at tackle.

The quarterback situation needs to get the backup situation in order, but former Cal transfer Ross Bowers is a good starter if the gets the help to do more. He’s not a runner, but he only threw seven touchdown passes and eight picks. New recruit Dustin Fletcher is the most talented backup option, but the proven depth is non-existent.

Cole Tucker led the team with just 38 catches for 531 yards and a score, and former JUCO transfer Tyrice Richie returns after coming up with a team-high four touchdown passes. However, losing top TE Mitchell Brinkman to USF hurts – he was second on the team in receiving yards.

NEXT: College Football News Preview 2020: Northern Illinois Huskies Defense 3 Things To Know