by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Nov 07, 2022
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, MI
Where to watch: ESPNU
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Northern Illinois -1
FanDuel: Western Michigan -1.5
BetMGM: Western Michigan -1.5
Caesars: EVEN
Season record
Northern Illinois: 2-7 (1-4 MAC)
Western Michigan: 3-6 (2-3 MAC)
We're coming down to the wire in what should be an exciting final month of the college football season. The conference championship chases are on, bowl games are to be decided, and who gets into the College Football Playoff is anybody's guess to this point. If you're still trying to figure out who's the best to play at this point of the year, look no further than our champion handicappers leading the way in the college football world. Our own Kyle Hunter is 23-8-0 over the last month, while Brian Bitler is 21-13-0 in the run. Kyle's reeled in a net profit of over $14,000. Now you feel like you should be getting on the action, huh? Make sure you go check out bigal.com to see all of the work our champion handicappers are trying to do to get money in YOUR pocket with our selections. Make sure to hit up our Best Bets page for more!
Northern Illinois - Western Michigan preview, analysis and prediction
Last week
Northern Illinois: lost 35-22 vs. Central Michigan
Western Michigan: lost 13-9 at Bowling Green
There will be no rowing the boat for Western Michigan this time around. The Broncos need to win out in order to get a chance at going to a bowl game. Now with three losses in four games, two of them by a large amount of points, things aren’t looking great for them. But things are certainly not any better for the Northern Illinois Huskies, who are now on the outside looking in with another loss.
There will be no rowing the boat for Western Michigan this time around. The Broncos need to win out in order to get a chance at going to a bowl game. Now with three losses in four games, two of them by a large amount of points, things aren’t looking great for them. But things are certainly not any better for the Northern Illinois Huskies, who are now on the outside looking in with another loss.
This is certainly not the Northern Illinois team that we’ve been accustomed to. It’s been loss after loss for the Huskies, and not all of them have been competitive. NIU is coming off a 35-22 loss at home against Central Michigan that was extremely disappointing for this program. Nevan Cremascoli completed just 13 of 33 passes for 158 yards and two touchdowns, along with an interception. NIU running back Harrison Waylee ran for 136 yards on 20 carries, but the offense was just too overwhelmed for such a thing.
NIU has this aura around the program that should’ve been so much better than what it has done. Nothing of how bad this team has been makes any sense and I don’t think it will ever make sense. The Huskies have been such a strong team for so long that any sign of struggle comes with a form of shock. Offensively, they’re not moving the ball as well. Any team that comes to DeKalb isn’t scared anymore. And the same can be said for any team going to Western Michigan to try and win a game.
The Broncos are coming off a 13-9 loss last week at Bowling Green, their third in four games, in a time where offense has completely run dry in Kalamazoo. WMU quarterback Treyson Bourguet was just 15 of 27 for 191 yards and a touchdown, but the Broncos offense could only garner nine points despite outgaining Bowling Green 318-289.
Of course the Falcons are having a decent year, but Western Michigan just hasn’t been able to string any success together and it’s quite weird. This is an offense that used to put up 30-35 points a game in their heyday, but now with a month to go, the Broncos are scoring less than 20 points a game and it’s put them in really weird territory.
Prediction
I do wonder how long the line will stay even. Looking at Northern Illinois, the Huskies are just 8-12 in their last 20 conference games and are 2-7 in their last nine November games outright. Western Michigan, meanwhile, has found ways to deliver in the final month of the regular season going 6-3 in November the last few years. The problem is the Broncos have lost five of their last seven as an underdog, and if the line hits toward Northern Illinois, that doesn’t bode well for the Broncos. Northern Illinois is going to play for pride and I think they hang on in a close one. Northern Illinois by 6
Betting trends
Northern Illinois is 89-55 ATS on the road since 1992.
Northern Illinois is 9-11 ATS in its last 20 conference games.
Northern Illinois is 7-8 ATS off an over the last three years.
Western Michigan is 8-21 ATS in its last 29 as a home underdog.
Western Michigan is 8-10 ATS in its last 18 conference games.
The over is 56-28 since 1992 with Western Michigan coming off an over.
Statistical leaders
Northern Illinois:
Passing: Ethan Hampton -- 798 yards, 7 TD, 6 INT
Rushing: Harrison Waylee -- 863 yards, 5 TD
Receiving: Cole Tucker -- 572 yards, 3 TD
Western Michigan:
Passing: Jack Salopek -- 1,231 yards, 7 TD, 10 INT
Rushing: Sean Tyler -- 622 yards, 4 TD
Receiving: Corey Crooms -- 620 yards, 5 TD
Don't miss our champion handicappers' free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Northern Illinois Huskies - Western Michigan Broncos prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our daily college football projections and previews.
Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
