The Huskies (-5) are gearing up to host the Ball State Cardinals in Northern Illinois. This MAC game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET and ESPN 3 is in line to televise the action. When these two teams faced one another a year ago, Northern Illinois earned the win 24-16.
Betting Preview: Ball State Cardinals at Northern Illinois Huskies
This Saturday MAC game shows the Cardinals as the underdogs and they’re currently getting 5 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline bettors would currently have to spend $200 to win $100 back on the Huskies (-200). The Cardinals are getting +170 moneyline odds. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 54.5 points, and if one team gets out in front early, it will likely create a worthwhile in-game betting scenario.
The opening line was originally set at -7 and the game’s total was initially 53, so sharp bettors have been hammering both the Cardinals and the over.
The Cardinals have lost 3.0 units so far in 2019 and are 2-2 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 2-2.
The Huskies are down 1.0 unit this season. The team is 3-1 ATS and has an O/U record of 1-3.
The Cardinals are 1-3 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any MAC competition yet. The Huskies are 1-3 SU overall and are also 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Cardinals look to bounce back after a 34-23 defeat to North Carolina State on September 21. Drew Plitt completed 35-of-57 passes for 333 yards and one interception. Caleb Huntley (52 yards on 13 rushes, one TD) and Walter Fletcher (30 yards on 10 carries) provided the ground attack while Riley Miller (eight receptions, 70 yards) and Justin Hall (eight catches, 73 yards) manned the receiving duties in the defeat.
Northern Illinois just dropped a 24-18 game to Vanderbilt. The defense let the Commodores rush for 184 yards on 26 attempts, including two rush TDs. Ke’Shawn Vaughn had a productive showing in the win, recording 138 rushing yards and a score on 17 attempts for Vanderbilt. For Northern Illinois, Ross Bowers completed 17-of-32 passes for 280 yards and one touchdown. Tre Harbison (62 yards on 13 rush attempts) and Jordan Nettles (64 yards on 10 carries) handled the running game while Marcus Jones (three receptions, 34 yards) and Spencer Tears (three catches, 100 yards) led the receiving corps in the loss.
When looking at offensive play-calling, each of these squads sports a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Ball State’s run the ball on 44.2 percent of its offensive possessions while Northern Illinois has an overall rush percentage of 45.9. Having said that, the Cardinals have produced 125.8 rush yards per game and have five touchdowns on the ground this year. The Huskies haven’t been as successful. They’re averaging 84.8 rushing yards per game and have two total rush TDs.
The Cards offense has tallied an astonishing 344.5 yards per game through the air overall and has 11 passing scores so far. The Huskies have recorded 272.5 pass yards per outing and have four total pass TDs.
Ball State has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 142.8 yards and pass for 274.5 yards per game. The Northern Illinois D has allowed 219.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 166.5 yards per game to opposing runners. The Cards are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.01 to opposing QBs, while the Huskies have allowed a 7.99 ANY/A.
Bowers has completed 57-of-94 passes for 808 yards, four TDs and two INTs. Bowers’ adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 7.00 for the season and 5.65 over his last two games. In the other locker room, Plitt has put up 1,070 passing yards this year, and has connected on 93-of-138 attempts with eight passing touchdowns and three interceptions. Plitt has a 7.22 ANY/A for the year, though that number sits at 5.47 over the last two games.
Ball State Cardinals vs. Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Pick
SU Winner: Northern Illinois, ATS Winner: Northern Illinois, O/U: Under
Betting Notes
- Each team defense has tallied three sacks this year.
- The Northern Illinois offense has lost one fumble in 2019 while Ball State has lost four.
- The Cardinals have made 10 pass plays of 30+ yards while the Huskies have accounted for seven such plays.
- The Ball State defense has allowed four pass plays of 40+ yards, while Northern Illinois has given up two such plays.
- The Ball State offense has created four rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Northern Illinois has created two such runs.
- The Cardinals defense has allowed five rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Huskies have given up eight such runs.
- The Over/Under for Northern Illinois’ last game was set at 51.5. The under cashed in the team’s 24-18 loss to Vanderbilt.
- In its last three games, Northern Illinois is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three games, Ball State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Ball State’s last game was set at 58. The under cashed in the team’s 34-23 defeat to North Carolina State.
- Ball State, as a team, has produced 4.0 yards per carry over its past three contests and 3.8 over its last two.
- Northern Illinois has averaged 2.8 yards per carry over its last three outings and 2.9 over its past two.
