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College Football Pick for Tuesday: Huskies to Bark Way to Cover vs. Broncos
We are still 21-9 in All Sports with our write-ups after our first losing College Football Saturday going 1-2, leaving us at 10-5 in NCAAF overall. We now have a rare weeknight MACtion write-up for Western Michigan vs. NIU Tuesday.
Western Michigan Broncos vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
Tuesday, November 18th – 7:00pm ET
In a game where both teams will be run oriented against decent run defenses and with the Northern Illinois offense showing more life with a new quarterback last week, we are taking the points at home with NIU hosting Western Michigan.
More Efficient Offense with Macon
Northern Illinois comes in at 3-7, mainly due to a sputtering offense ranked a dismal 132nd in the nation with 282.3 yards per game. However, 174.2 of those yards have come on the ground, leaving them a more respectable 47th in rushing offense, and NIU looked the best it has all year on that side of the ball last week with a change in starting quarterback to Jalen Macon.
Yes, it was against a terrible UMass team and Macon threw just four passes, but the Huskies prevailed 45-3. Still, the offense showed more juice under Macon’s leadership, and he personally accounted for four touchdowns. Three of those came on the ground while taking off for 98 yards on 12 carries, and he also had a nice 67-yard touchdown pass on one of his four throws with three completions.
Granted, this is still a one-dimensional rushing offense facing a Western Michigan team ranked 29th in total defense, but WMU will be in a similar position (more on that in a bit). Moreover, having a mobile quarterback is an added touch that NIU did not have with the benched Brady Davidson.
Overpriced on the Road?
Now, Western Michigan enters this game with a record of 6-4 on the strength of the defense we alluded to earlier. But while the offense ranks better than NIU’s, it has not been very potent either in 93rd at 320.7 yards per game. And, like the Huskies, the Broncos are also one-dimensional while ranking 40th in rushing offense and 117th in passing.
They are taking on a Northern Illinois defense ranked a decent 49th in total defense, and that can now basically commit to stopping the run with no fear of Broc Lowry, who averages just 6.0 yards per attempt, beating them over the top. Furthermore, despite the winning record, the Broncos are still averaging only 21.8 points per game to rank 107th, which makes this team hard to trust giving nearly a touchdown on the road.
We see this as a close game from start to finish with the team better able to run the ball probably prevailing at the end. And with the added variable of NIU looking better with the more mobile Macon running the offense, we are betting on the Huskies as home underdogs.
THE PICK
Northern Illinois +6.5 -111 at Bookmaker
Remember that there is aways the possibility that we may add more plays, so make sure to keep checking the NCAAF Picks thread for additions.
We are still 21-9 in All Sports with our write-ups after our first losing College Football Saturday going 1-2, leaving us at 10-5 in NCAAF overall. We now have a rare weeknight MACtion write-up for Western Michigan vs. NIU Tuesday.
Western Michigan Broncos vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
Tuesday, November 18th – 7:00pm ET
In a game where both teams will be run oriented against decent run defenses and with the Northern Illinois offense showing more life with a new quarterback last week, we are taking the points at home with NIU hosting Western Michigan.
More Efficient Offense with Macon
Northern Illinois comes in at 3-7, mainly due to a sputtering offense ranked a dismal 132nd in the nation with 282.3 yards per game. However, 174.2 of those yards have come on the ground, leaving them a more respectable 47th in rushing offense, and NIU looked the best it has all year on that side of the ball last week with a change in starting quarterback to Jalen Macon.
Yes, it was against a terrible UMass team and Macon threw just four passes, but the Huskies prevailed 45-3. Still, the offense showed more juice under Macon’s leadership, and he personally accounted for four touchdowns. Three of those came on the ground while taking off for 98 yards on 12 carries, and he also had a nice 67-yard touchdown pass on one of his four throws with three completions.
Granted, this is still a one-dimensional rushing offense facing a Western Michigan team ranked 29th in total defense, but WMU will be in a similar position (more on that in a bit). Moreover, having a mobile quarterback is an added touch that NIU did not have with the benched Brady Davidson.
Overpriced on the Road?
Now, Western Michigan enters this game with a record of 6-4 on the strength of the defense we alluded to earlier. But while the offense ranks better than NIU’s, it has not been very potent either in 93rd at 320.7 yards per game. And, like the Huskies, the Broncos are also one-dimensional while ranking 40th in rushing offense and 117th in passing.
They are taking on a Northern Illinois defense ranked a decent 49th in total defense, and that can now basically commit to stopping the run with no fear of Broc Lowry, who averages just 6.0 yards per attempt, beating them over the top. Furthermore, despite the winning record, the Broncos are still averaging only 21.8 points per game to rank 107th, which makes this team hard to trust giving nearly a touchdown on the road.
We see this as a close game from start to finish with the team better able to run the ball probably prevailing at the end. And with the added variable of NIU looking better with the more mobile Macon running the offense, we are betting on the Huskies as home underdogs.
THE PICK
Northern Illinois +6.5 -111 at Bookmaker
Remember that there is aways the possibility that we may add more plays, so make sure to keep checking the NCAAF Picks thread for additions.
