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Northern Illinois at Ball State Football Odds & Picks

Written by Jimmy Boyd

5-3 Northern Illinois heads to 8-0 Ball State Wendessday night to try to rain on the Cardinal’s parade in this televised matchup on ESPN 2. The odds makers are confident that the Cards will make it to 9-0, listing Ball State as the 9.5-point home favorite.

Ball State is yet to truly be tested in Mid-American Conference play but that is likely to change as the 16th ranked Cardinals begin a tough four-game stretch, featuring three meetings with the MAC West’s three top teams.

Ball State enters this contests as one of six undefeated teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision, but many critics don’t feel this team is worthy of its high national ranking. The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 151-60 in conference play this season, but those opponents are only 10-25 on the season and 5-14 in league play. The Cardinals are going to have to win on their home field against a solid Huskies team to start gain a few more believers as it’s only going to get tougher from here on out.

Its final two games of the season will be at West division leading Central Michigan (5-0 in the MAC) and at home against third-place Western Michigan (5-1 in the MAC).

Ball State has not opened a season 9-0 since 1965 and will have some other history going against it this week. Northern Illinois is rolling and has won four straight against the Cardinals in Muncie, Indiana.

Ball State is coming off a bye week and last played on October 25th, defeating Eastern Michigan 38-16. QB Nate Davis was 17 of 31 for 241 yards and two touchdowns and caught another touchdown pass.

Davis has been shredding the Ball State record books and he’s only a junior. He is already the school’s all-time passing yardage leader with 7,700 yards and touchdowns leader with 63. This season he’s completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 2,058 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Davis has put up some big numbers against NIU in his career. He threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns in last year’s 27-21 road win. I two career meetings, he is 50 of 73 for 624 yards and six touchdowns, while throwing no interceptions, against the Huskies.

Running back MiQuale Lewis provides the balance. Prior to being held to 75 yards against Eastern Michigan, Lewis had rushed for at least 100 yards in six straight games. He currently ranks seventh in the nation with a 123.6 yards per game average and only needs 11 yards to break the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

The defense has not been too shabby either. The Cards have allowed only 23 total points over their last three games and are allowing an average of 15.5 this season – good for 13th in the nation. If you like the Cards to keep right on rolling and to cover the spread in the process, bet Ball State at -9.5 at Bookmaker and receive a 20% cash sign up bonus.

First-year head coach Jerry Kill inherited a Northern Illinois program which was just 2-10 a season ago and he has wasted no time turning things around as the Huskies are 4-1 in the MAC this season.

Much of their success can be attributed to a very stingy defense. The Huskies are allowing only 13.6 points per game, which is good for ninth in the nation. They have really tightened the screws over their last six ball games, allowing only 8.1 points per game during that span.

The Huskies also had the advantage of an extra week to rest up and prepare. They were last seen in action on October 25th as well, beating Bowling Green 16-13.

A strong running game has complimented the defensive efforts of this team nicely. NIU rolled up 233 rushing yards against Bowling Green – the third straight game the Huskies have gained more the 200 on the ground.

QB Chandler Harnish rushed for 113 yards on 19 carries and fellow freshman Me’co Brown carried 20 times for 95 yards. NIU boasts the MAC’s third-ranked rushing offense, averaging 184.2 yards per game. If Ball State wants to avoid the upset, they are going to have to stop the freshman phenoms.

Norther Illinois has lost five straight games against teams ranked in the Top 25 since it last beat the No. 21 Alabama Crimson Tide in 2003. If you think the snide ends Wednesday night, bet Northern Illinois at +9.5 at Bookmaker.

Check out all of the football odds this week at Locksmith Sports to see which books offer the best lines on the game you’re looking to wager on. Jimmy’s college football betting season has been a huge success. He has hit 12 of his last 18 NCAA football picks and has profited on 8 of 10 Saturday’s this season. Play Jimmy’s Week 11 picks for continued success.

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Written by Jimmy Boyd on November 3, 2008 · Filed Under College Football Betting Articles, News & Previews

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