2012 MAC Championship Game Free Pick: Northern Illinois vs. Kent State
By Drew Sharper
DETROIT, MI (TheSpread) – No. 18 Kent State faces No. 19 Northern Illinois at 7PM ET in the MAC Championship Game from Ford Field on Friday on ESPN2.
Both teams enter this game at 11-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 in Mid-American Conference play. The Huskies are 9-2-1 against the spread this year while the Golden Flashes are 10-2 ATS. Northern Illinois has won and covered the spread in five straight against Kent State.
Odds: The oddsmakers at Bovada.lv have Northern Illinois as the clear favorite in this game, as the Huskies have odds of -7 points against Kent State. The over/under total has been set at 57 points.
Line Movement: Opening odds had NIU favored by 5 points. The spread hit a low of 4.5 points during the week and a peak of 7.5 before closing at Northern Illinois -7.
Public Betting: Of the wagers that have been placed on this game, 51% are going on Northern Illinois with odds of -7 points against Kent State on Friday. Be sure to click on the public betting link to get the latest odds and betting percentages.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL FREE PICK: The spread is somewhat surprising considering Kent State is ranked higher than NIU in most polls and the fact that the MAC Championship Game has been very competitive over recent years. The last two title games, which both have featured NIU, have been decided by 5 points or less. Both teams come into the game with explosive players as NIU quarterback Jordan Lynch has thrown for 2,750 yards while rushing for 1,611 yards. Kent State has a pair of 1,000-yard rushers that each have 14 touchdowns. Despite the offensive firepower, I expect this game to be lower scoring. Northern Illinois may come out on top, but I don’t expect it will be by seven points. Look for Kent State to cover the spread.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 14 FREE PICK: KENT STATE +7
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