The Northern Illinois Huskies and Miami (OH) RedHawks will square off on the turf at Fred C. Yager Stadium. ESPN+ is scheduled to have the TV rights and this MAC game starts at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Miami (OH) RedHawks vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
Miami (OH) is entering this MAC game as the underdog and is currently receiving 1 point. The Huskies are also receiving -115 moneyline odds while the RedHawks are -105. Vegas has set the over/under (O/U) at 48 points. If one side can get out in front early, it will likely generate a worthwhile in-game betting opportunity.
After the game’s O/U was originally placed at 49, Sharp bettors have been apparently taking the under.
The Huskies are 4-2 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 1.1 units so far in 2019. They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U record of 2-4.
The RedHawks are down 1.0 unit this season. The team is 2-4 ATS and four of its games have gone over the total.
The Huskies have gone 2-4 straight up (SU), including 1-1 SU against conference opponents. The RedHawks are 2-4 SU overall and 1-1 SU in conference play.
When these two teams faced one another a year ago, Miami (OH) knocked Northern Illinois off by a pair of field goals 13-7.
The Huskies just pulled off a 39-36 win over Ohio last week. Ross Bowers completed 23-of-39 passes for 338 yards, along with a TD and an interception. Tre Harbison (113 rushing yards on 25 attempts, three TDs) led the ground attack. Cole Tucker (eight receptions, 118 yards) and Mitchell Brinkman (five catches, 100 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Miami (OH) just fell convincingly 38-16 to Western Michigan. The team’s defense allowed the Broncos to kill the clock by rushing for 173 yards on 40 attempts, including two rush TDs. LeVante Bellamy had a productive outing for Western Michigan, recording 135 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 22 attempts. For Miami (OH), Brett Gabbert completed 26-of-45 passes for 260 yards and three interceptions. Gabbert (15 yards on 14 rush attempts) and Jaylon Bester (45 yards on 11 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running game while James Maye (five receptions, 76 yards) and Bester (five catches, 30 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Northern Illinois has run the ball on 44.8 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 42.8 percent across possessions in conference play. Miami (OH) has an overall run percentage of 61.7 percent, and has rushed the ball 58.2 percent of the time against MAC opponents. The Huskies have run for 109.2 yards per game (including 158 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have seven scores on the ground this year. The RedHawks are putting up 105.5 rushing yards per game (125 in conference) and have nine total rush TDs.
The Huskies offense has averaged 278.7 yards in the air overall (291 per game against conference opposition) and has five passing TDs so far. The RedHawks have recorded 154.7 pass yards per game (190 in the MAC) and have three total pass scores.
Northern Illinois has allowed opponents to run for an average of 179.8 yards and pass for 195.2 yards per game. The Miami (OH) D has allowed 207.7 yards per game to opposing passers and 205.0 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Huskies have given up an ANY/A of 7.26 to opposing QBs, while the RedHawks are yielding an ANY/A of 6.82.
Offensively, Bowers has put up 1,394 passing yards this season. He’s completed 59 percent of his 177 attempts with five passing scores and four interceptions. Bowers has a 6.29 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 5.71 over the last two games.
In the home locker room, Brett Gabbert has connected on 68-of-122 passes for 789 yards, two TDs and five INTs. Gabbert’s ANY/A sits at a very poor 3.91 for the season and 3.45 over his past two games.
Northern Illinois Huskies at Miami (OH) RedHawks Free NCAA Betting Tip
SU Winner: Miami (OH), ATS Winner: Miami (OH), O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Northern Illinois’ previous game was 51.5. The over cashed in the team’s 39-36 triumph over Ohio.
- Northern Illinois has rushed for 4.6 yards per attempt over its past three outings and 5.1 over its last two.
- Miami (OH) has averaged 2.4 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 2.8 over its last two.
- Miami (OH) has lost four fumbles this season while Northern Illinois has lost three.
- In its last three matches, Northern Illinois is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Miami (OH)’s last game going into it was 57.5. The under cashed in that 38-16 loss to Western Michigan.
- In its last three games, Miami (OH) is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Huskies offense has recorded six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the RedHawks have put up four such plays.
- The Northern Illinois defense has allowed three pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Miami (OH) has given up six such plays.
- The Northern Illinois offense has created seven rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Miami (OH) has created four such runs.
- The Huskies defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the RedHawks have given up nine such runs.
- The Miami (OH) defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 12 times this season. Northern Illinois has produced seven sacks.
