2010 International Bowl Northern Illinois vs. South Florida Start Time, TV Guide & Odds
Toronto, ON – While Northern Illinois is focused on averting a third straight bowl loss, South Florida's biggest concern heading into its fifth straight postseason game is to avoid being consumed by an off-field distraction.
Bet The 2010 International Bowl
The Huskies and Bulls face each other for the third time when they meet in the International Bowl at Toronto's Rogers Centre on Jan. 2.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made South Florida -6 point spread favorites (View College Football odds) for the Saturday, Jan. 2 game (Game Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 85% of bets for this game have been placed on South Florida -6 (View College Football bet percentages).
A second straight bowl appearance and fourth in six seasons has Northern Illinois (7-5) feeling confident despite losing its final two games to Ohio and Central Michigan, the Mid-American Conference title game representatives.
"It's the first time that NIU will be in back-to-back bowl games as an FBS school, which is a huge accomplishment for our seniors and another step forward for our program," Huskies second-year coach Jerry Kill told the school's official Web site.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for our program versus a tremendous opponent as we know South Florida is a very good football program. It will be a great challenge for our team."
The Huskies, however, have dropped two straight bowl games since winning the 2004 Silicon Valley Classic.
They will face a South Florida team that has had to answer questions about a report that coach Jim Leavitt grabbed sophomore Joel Miller by the throat and hit him in the face during halftime of a game Nov. 21. The school has retained an expert in workplace issues to assist with an investigation of the accusation.
Leavitt, the only coach in the 13-year history of the program, said the accusations were false.
"I'm appalled at it. It's absolutely not true,'' Leavitt told the St. Petersburg Times. "It's so far out there. I'm very disappointed something like this would be written.''
Miller's father backtracked on comments in which he said Leavitt "crossed the line," later saying he believed "there was no malicious intent to hit anyone." The incident, though, still casts a shadow over a team that looked to be on its way to a more prestigious January bowl after starting 5-0 for the second straight season.
South Florida also lost five of its last seven for the second straight year, dropping its final two against then-No. 19 Miami and Connecticut.
Still, the Bulls' run of five bowl appearances in five years of BCS membership puts them in elite company. Texas, Florida, Florida State, Virginia Tech, Georgia and Georgia Tech are the only other teams to reach a bowl in each year as a member of a BCS conference.
Versatile freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels has done a solid job since senior Matt Grothe suffered a season-ending knee injury in the third game. Daniels has thrown for 1,766 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions, while rushing for 798 yards and nine scores.
"He's a courageous competitor," Leavitt said of Daniels, who rushed for three TDs in the 29-27 defeat at UConn on Dec. 5.
Junior Carlton Mitchell is the school's all-time leader with 1,554 receiving yards. He has 612 yards this year and needs 50 more to set the South Florida single-season record.
Linemen Jason Pierre-Paul and George Selvie have combined for nine sacks and 24 tackles for loss, leading a defense that ranked third in the Big East at 328.7 yards allowed per contest.
That unit should get a test from a Northern Illinois squad that topped the MAC in rushing at 202.4 yards per game and was second with 30.8 points a contest.
Junior Chad Spann ran for a team-leading 945 yards and scored 20 touchdowns, while backup Me'co Brown added 645 yards and four TDs for the Huskies.
Junior Jake Coffman had 7 1/2 sacks and 12 1/2 tackles for loss as the leader of a defense that was second in the MAC at 21.2 points allowed per game.
The schools have split two meetings, with South Florida posting a 37-6 home victory in 2002 and Northern Illinois winning 20-17 at home in 2001.
2010 International Bowl
Teams: Northern Illinois vs. South Florida
Kickoff: Jan. 2, 2010 at Noon ET
Venue: Rogers Centre
TV: ESPN2
Odds:
Northern Illinois +6 Over 50 (+210)
South Florida -6 Under 50 (-270)
2010 International Bowl South Florida vs. Northern Illinois Picks & Predictions
The Mid-American Conference looks to end its 15-bowl game losing streak Saturday at Noon ET when Northern Illinois takes on South Florida in the 2010 International Bowl from the Rogers Centre.
Northern Illinois is 7-5 this season and 6-5-1 against the spread. The Huskies lost their final two games of the season to fellow bowl reps Ohio and Central Michigan, and NIU has failed to cover in its last three games.
South Florida is 7-5 on the year and 4-6 against the spread. The Bulls won their first five games of the season, but struggled to a 2-5 finish to the year. South Florida has failed to cover in three of its last four games.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.com have made South Florida 7-point favorites over Northern Illinois on Saturday afternoon. The over/under total for this game has been established at 49.
NIU is scoring 30.8 points per-game and the offense has been based mostly on a running attack. Chad Spann has led the way with 945 yards and 19 scores. Chandler Harnish has played well at quarterback in nine games, throwing for 1,540 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Bulls are holding opponents to 21.2 points and 328.8 yards per-game on defense.
USF is scoring 26.4 points per-game on offense. B.J. Daniels has rushed for 798 yards and nine touchdowns while throwing for 1,766 yards and 12 scores. The Huskies are holding opponents to 21.2 points and 325.1 yards per-game this season on defense.
The key to this game will be whether Northern Illinois can keep Daniels from running the ball and force him to be a pocket passer, which he has not been good at. The Huskies are a physical team and not your typical MAC team, as they try to run a very pro-style offense. If Northern Illinois can control the tempo of play and make it a slow-paced game, they should be able to cover. We feel that Daniels has struggled against physical defenses and will in this game. We suggest a pick of the Huskies and the under.
Our International Bowl Free Pick for this matchup is: NORTHERN ILLINOIS +7 and UNDER 49.
College Football Bowl Season Betting Trends
S FLORIDA is 2-0 against the spread versus N ILLINOIS since 1992
S FLORIDA is 1-1 straight up against N ILLINOIS since 1992
1 of 1 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL since 1992
Bowl Season College Football Injury Report
N ILLINOIS
No significant injuries.
S FLORIDA
[K] 09/15/2009 - Maikon Bonani out for season ( Back )
[QB] 09/20/2009 - Matt Grothe out for season ( Knee )
[CB] 11/11/2009 - Tyson Butler out for season ( Leg )
[RG] 12/04/2009 - Zach Hermann out for season ( Neck )
[DE] 12/06/2009 - Craig Marshall is "?" vs No Illinois in the International Bowl ( Knee )
[RB] 12/06/2009 - Aston Samuels is "?" vs No Illinois in the International Bowl ( Abdominal )
[DL] 12/01/2009 - Cory Grissom out for season ( Foot )
[C] 12/17/2009 - Sampson Genus is upgraded to probable vs No Illinois in the International Bowl ( Ankle )
[LB] 12/25/2009 - Kion Wilson is upgraded to probable vs No Illinois in the International Bowl ( Ankle )
[SS] 12/17/2009 - Jerrell Young is upgraded to probable vs No Illinois in the International Bowl ( Ankle )
International Bowl Odds
Northern Illinois Huskies +7 Over 49 (+220)
South Florida Bulls -7 Under 49 (-300)