Northern Illinois travels to Ball State in Wednesday Night college football action. The sportsbooks have Ball State as a 9.5 point favorite with a total of 47.5. For the top NCAA pointspread and NBA against the spread winners, check out today’s betting picks rundown.
NIU is 5-3 straight up and 5-2 against the spread. Their last five games have gone under. They are 1-3 outright on the road, but 4-0 to the pointspread.
Ball State is 8-0 straight up and 5-1 to the number, though just 1-1 at home. The Cardinals have gone under three straight games.
The ratings say that Northern Illinois is a bit below average on offense getting 5.5 yards per play against teams normally allowing 5.7 but they are above average on defense allowing 4.6 to teams normally getting 4.9. They are particularly effective against the pass allowing 5.4 yards per pass to 6.1.
Ball State has a sensational offense averaging 5.3 yards per rush against teams normally allowing 4.7 and 8.8 yards per pass against teams normally allowing 7.9. All in all, they average .9 more yards per play than their foes’ cumulative average. They are decent on defense allowing 5.2 yards per play to teams normally getting 5.5.
As far as betting trends, all records against the spread: Northern Illinois is 7-3 in the series. Ball State has an impressive 20-9 ledger the last three years and 27-11 the last 38 lined contest. They are 13-3 their last 16 against teams with a winning record. The Huskies have covered 8-of-10 overall and are 36-16 after getting less than 170 yards passing last game.
The Cardinals’ smallest margin of victory has been 12 points, but NIU has not lost by more than four. Their three losses were by a combined 11 points. In fact, they have never trailed by more than 11 points this season.
Neither team has played a tough schedule. Ball State‘s only victory to a winning team was Navy. Their last four opponents are a combined 8-28 straight up.
The Huskies have yet to beat a team with a winning mark. Their last four games were against teams a combined 11-23 straight up. For those who bet quarters, note that the Cardinals have scored just six points combined in the first quarter of their last three games and NIU has a better defense than each of those teams according to Bob Warner of Lines-Maker.com