BALL ST (6 - 4) at N ILLINOIS (7 - 3)
Top Trends for this game.
N ILLINOIS is 11-3 ATS (+7.7 Units) against conference opponents over the last 2 seasons.
N ILLINOIS is 11-2 ATS (+8.8 Units) after playing a conference game over the last 2 seasons.
N ILLINOIS is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in games played on turf over the last 2 seasons.
N ILLINOIS is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) off a win against a conference rival over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
N ILLINOIS is 1-1 against the spread versus BALL ST over the last 3 seasons
N ILLINOIS is 2-0 straight up against BALL ST over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
BALL STATE vs. NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Ball State is 6-12 SU in its last 18 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Ball State's last 8 games
Northern Illinois is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games when playing Ball State
Northern Illinois is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games at home
BALL ST at N ILLINOIS
BALL ST: 12-4 ATS as road underdog
N ILLINOIS: 6-0 Under off BB road wins
What Bettors Need to Know: Ball State at Northern Illinois
By David Payne Purdum
Covers.com
Ball State at Northern Illinois (-18.5)
Two first-year MAC coaches getting the most out of their teams collide Tuesday, when Northern Illinois hosts Ball State in chilly DeKalb, Ill.
Dave Doeren, a former Wisconsin defensive coordinator, has the Huskies (7-3 SU, 5-5 ATS) in position to defend their MAC West Crown. Northern Illinois is ninth in the nation in both rushing offense (250.4 yards ppg.) and scoring offense (41.6 points).
Pete Lembo’s Cardinals (6-4 SU, 6-4 ATS) have equaled their win total for the last two years combined, despite being ranked 118th in total defense.
The seven weekday MAC games in November have averaged 76.28 points with five of the seven eclipsing the total.
THE LINE
The Huskies opened as 17-point favorites Sunday at the Las Vegas Wynn. But early money came in on Northern Illinois, pushing the line up to -18.5 by Monday morning. The Huskies have covered seven of their last eight home games as a favorite.
RECENT HISTORY
The Huskies went on the road and blasted Ball State 59-21 as 15.5-point favorites last season, with quarterback Chandler Harnish passing for 247 yards and two touchdowns.
Northern Illinois has won five straight overall, including last Tuesday’s 45-14 pummeling of Bowling Green. The Huskies have covered the spread in four of their last five.
Ball State also is surging down the stretch, having won three of four, including a 33-31 win at improving Eastern Michigan on Nov. 5. The Cardinals have covered the spread in four straight games.
INJURY REPORT
Northern Illinois will be without starting freshman linebacker Jamaal Bass (suspension). Freshman Michael Santacaterina started in place of Bass last week and played well.
Ball State is not reporting any recent significant injuries.
WEATHER
Temperatures are expected to dip into the 30s around kickoff with a calming 12 mph NW wind.
TRENDS
Cardinals are 23-8 ATS as road underdogs and 30-11 ATS in last 41 road games overall.
Most of Huskies’ ATS success has come against weaker competition. Northern Illinois is 5-11 ATS versus a team with a winning record.
The over is 10-3 in Ball State’s last 13 conference games and 6-1 in Northern Illinois last seven games in November.
NCAAF Week 12
Northern Illinois won nine of last 12 games vs Ball State winning two in row by 59-21/26-20 scores; Cardinals are 2-4 in last six visits here, with losses by 6-25-4-20 points. 6-4 Ball State covered its last three games on road, last four overall- three of their four losses are by 30+ points. MAC home favorites of 17+ points are 5-3 vs spread this season. Huskies won last five games, covering four; they're 3-0 as home faves this year, with wins by 23-30-29 points, but they've allowed 30+ points in six of their last nine games. Six of last eight Ball State games went over the total.