Eastern Michigan Eagles (0-8 SU, 2-6 ATS) vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (5-3 SU, 4-3 ATS), 7:30 p.m. EST, Thursday, November 5, 2009, Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, Ill. TV: ESPNU
by Ryno of Predictem.com
Point Spread: Eastern Michigan +21/Northern Illinois -21
Over/Under: N/A
Bet this game at an online sportsbook that offers a generous twenty percent sign up bonus, free weekly fantasy NFL contests and that CAN and WILL get your credit card to work for deposits: BetUSA.
Eastern Michigan has had a rough season. The winless Eagles are still looking for their first win of the season when they face Northern Illinois on Thursday night.
The Eagles have only come within 10 points of their opponents twice this season. They have faced three BCS teams - Northwestern, Michigan and Arkansas - and the two top teams in the MAC - Central Michigan and Temple. They lost to the last two of them that they played - Central Michigan and Arkansas - by a combined 84 points. In between those two games, the Eagles lost to Kent State by 22 and gave Ball State its first win of the season. To say the least, Eastern Michigan has not had a very good season.
Northern Illinois has a win at Purdue earlier this season, 28-21. The Huskies nearly knocked off another Big Ten team on the road, Wisconsin, in the first game of the season, 28-20. After the win over Purdue, the Huskies hit a low point by losing 34-31 at home to Idaho. They also lost by a point, 20-19, at Toledo. The Huskies are on a two-game winning streak after notching wins over Miami of Ohio and Akron.
Northern Illinois is a strong running team. The Huskies have run the ball 341 times and attempted 158 passes. Chad Span and Me'co Brown both have over 100 carries and over 500 rushing yards. Span has 13 touchdowns and a 5.4 yards-per-carry average, while Brown has four touchdowns and a 4.9 average. The Huskies don't pass much but when they do, quarterback Chandler Harnish has 967 passing yards, six touchdowns and only two interceptions.
Eastern Michigan's best offensive player is running back Dwayne Priest, who has 486 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Jacory Stone is leading the team in receptions with 29 and receiving yards with 325. The Eagles have already gone through three quarterbacks this season - Kyle McMahon, Andy Schmitt and Alex Gillett. McMahon, who was 10-for-19 for 231 yards, three touchdowns and an interception against Arkansas, will likely be the starter on Thursday against Northern Illinois.
Eastern Michigan has the worst rush defense in the country. The Eagles have allowed 277.1 rushing yards per game, 27 rushing touchdowns and a 6.4 yards-per-carry average. The Eagles have the fourth best pass defense in the country, allowing just 146 passing yards per game. But that has a lot to do with the fact that teams are able to just run all over the Eagles and they don't need to pass the ball much.
BET NORTHERN ILLINOIS AT -1 BY USING A 20 POINT COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEASER AT 5DIMES
Northern Illinois has won seven of the last eight games against Eastern Michigan. The Eagles have lost their last five road games. The total has gone under in four of Northern Illinois's last six games, but the total has gone over in four of Eastern Michigan's last six games.
Northern Illinois won this matchup last season, 37-0, at Eastern Michigan. The Huskies ran for 235 yards on 43 carries. Brown ran for 111 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Ryno's Pick: Eastern Michigan is simply a bad team. The Eagles may be the worst FBS team in college football. Some teams lose games because they get unlucky. That's not the case with the Eagles. They truly are an 0-8 team. On the other side, Northern Illinois is better than its 5-3 record. The Huskies lost by a point to Toledo, by a field goal to Idaho, and by eight to Wisconsin. Eastern Michigan has the worst run defense in the country by far, and Northern Illinois is a very good running team. That's an ugly combination. This game will be very ugly for Eastern Michigan fans. Take Northern Illinois -21.
Editor's Picks - Each weekend our very own in-house All-American Editor makes his NCAA point spread predictions in an attempt to force fumbles, sack and intercept your bookie!
Expert Picks - Free premium college foots plays from expert handicappers from around the web from game 1 through the National Championship.
Underdog of the Week - We sort through it all and find out which University is getting "too many points" this week. If there was a Heisman Trophy for picking underdogs, we'd be a frontrunner. Expect a 60% winning percentage with these picks as we've got a keen ear for loud barking dogs.
Favorite of the Week - Giving points means we start the game down. We're not a real big fan of betting college football favorites as it's similar to trading field goals for touchdowns but stick with us as we buck the odds each week, selecting the favored team with the best chance of covering the spread.
Over/Under of the Week - Expect great value from this pick each week as we've cashed in big on betting over/unders over the years.
Line Movement - NCAA football lines open early in the week and often times move up or down based on wagering activity, injuries to key players and weather. We decipher whether it's square or wiseguy action and predict the point spread winner based on value.
College Football Consensus Picks - We assess the public perception each week and let them pick the winners for us as we fade their selections which provides us with many trips into our bookies endzone.
Computer Picks - We enter them into the computer and the machine makes it's picks. This is a great guide especially when betting totals! These are available after the first few weeks of the season.
Trends - Despite what you have been told or read on tout sites, the trend ain't your friend. We however turn the tables and fade the almighty trend for what should be some great profits over time.
Sportsbook - Boasts the highest credit card acceptance rate on the internet, including U.S. players!
5Dimes - 15 team parlays! 20 point teasers! Buy up to 15 points! Most props on the web!
Sportbet - Wager on NCAA games at -105 odds up to $500 when making your bets on Tuesday's!
PlayersOnly - Their progressive parlays allow you to lose some games and still cash in your betting ticket!
Heisman Trophy Betting Odds - Tim Tebow, Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy or ? You make the call!
Odds to Win the 2010 BCS Championship - Florida heads up the list at 2-1 followed closely by the Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns and Ohio State Buckeyes.
Heisman Trophy Winners - A full list of college football quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers who have made history on the field and won the prestigious award.
The Spread College Football - Offers scores, odds, free game predictions, current news and more!
