Any team in any game has a "chance."
I just don't think Northern Illinois will be cover the +7 to +8 much less the ML SU winner. Why?
Yes, the Huskies have won 5 straight over the Rockets in this series dating back to 2009. However, I believe Toledo's balanced attack, timely defense and home-field advantage will be enough for the Rockets to move to 8-0 and stay alive for the Group of 5 bowl spot in the New Year's Six. The last factor surely will be a super motivator for this squad.
Here's a player you need to be concerned with since you're betting Northern Illinois. Toledo QB Phillip Ely. He's thrown for 728 yeards and 10 TDs over the last two games. The weather conditions are optimal tonight in Toledo, and I expect Ely to pick apart a pedestrian Huskies pass defense. This offense can score fast and in bunches. I also expect RB Kareen Hunt to have a spectacular day. He was banged up for most of this season, but reports state he'll be 100% for this game. If you've never heard of him or seen him play, you're in for a treat. He's a stud.
Emotion plays a major part of college football. I see Toledo releasing their pent up frustrations from losing the last 5 games to Northern Illinois in this series. Home-field advantage will play a major part, and the crowd will be fever pitch. The stakes are high in this game. Toledo has a dark-horse chance for a Group of 5 bowl spot as I mentioned before. I expect Toledo to respond in a big way. Their head coach, Matt Campbell, has his players believing in him and the system he's instituted. Campbell, only 35 years old, won't last long at Toledo. He'll get snared at some major program soon, possibly after this season. This is the type of game which will showcase how talented this young coach is. I expect Toledo to execute their game plan to perfection and win this game by 10 to 14 points.
I wish you the bets with your Northern Illinois straight bet (+7 or +8) as well as your ML play on them. I just don't see it. This is Toledo's time.
I just don't think Northern Illinois will be cover the +7 to +8 much less the ML SU winner. Why?
Yes, the Huskies have won 5 straight over the Rockets in this series dating back to 2009. However, I believe Toledo's balanced attack, timely defense and home-field advantage will be enough for the Rockets to move to 8-0 and stay alive for the Group of 5 bowl spot in the New Year's Six. The last factor surely will be a super motivator for this squad.
Here's a player you need to be concerned with since you're betting Northern Illinois. Toledo QB Phillip Ely. He's thrown for 728 yeards and 10 TDs over the last two games. The weather conditions are optimal tonight in Toledo, and I expect Ely to pick apart a pedestrian Huskies pass defense. This offense can score fast and in bunches. I also expect RB Kareen Hunt to have a spectacular day. He was banged up for most of this season, but reports state he'll be 100% for this game. If you've never heard of him or seen him play, you're in for a treat. He's a stud.
Emotion plays a major part of college football. I see Toledo releasing their pent up frustrations from losing the last 5 games to Northern Illinois in this series. Home-field advantage will play a major part, and the crowd will be fever pitch. The stakes are high in this game. Toledo has a dark-horse chance for a Group of 5 bowl spot as I mentioned before. I expect Toledo to respond in a big way. Their head coach, Matt Campbell, has his players believing in him and the system he's instituted. Campbell, only 35 years old, won't last long at Toledo. He'll get snared at some major program soon, possibly after this season. This is the type of game which will showcase how talented this young coach is. I expect Toledo to execute their game plan to perfection and win this game by 10 to 14 points.
I wish you the bets with your Northern Illinois straight bet (+7 or +8) as well as your ML play on them. I just don't see it. This is Toledo's time.
In this conference, sure, why not? Seen Toledo play, and they are good at dominating these bottom feeding teams, but I don't see them rolling over NIU here. Toledo has needed a couple HUGE 2nd halves to beat some below average teams. Personally though, I like the over. Just think both teams hit 30 points plus. :smoking:
The same can be said for Northern Illinois.
I just think this is Toledo's year. There's a reason why the odds-makers set the line of the game between 7 and 8 in favor of Toledo.
Yes, this will be a high scoring game. The OVER 60 is a definite play if one would to make a totals prediction.
I see the final being Toledo 49 Northern Illinois 38.
Toledo will win this game straight up.... However asking them to cover this spread is asking a lot... Remember, N. Illinois has a championship team mindset and they will rely on that mentality and tradition to keep this game close. No way Toledo runs away with this game, the huskies are too battle tested to get blown out here. This will be a very physical game. Toledo wins by 9 at most... I'm assuming 3 is the winning number. If you're going to take NIU tho, wait as long as possible.
You are right, the spread is 7 for a reason. But this is the MAC, and I just think the variance is higher for who wins/loses. I am definitely not making any bold predictions on who wins this though, sticking with the over. I love your score prediction which should mean being able to be asleep by halftime! (yeah, like it's ever that easy)
:lolBIG: Okie dokie. That sounds like some killer advice.
I'll take my chances and stand pat with my Toledo -7 bet.
If it shits the bed, so be it. Won't be the first, nor the last!imp:
MAC NEVER runs by the numbers and with MAC Schools getting onto trouble in the past for point shaving, I am convinced there is a reason why. I wish there was a statistic easy to prove it, but I cap the same way every year and the worst numbers come from the MAC on plays. Things that make you go hmmm......I posted some thoughts in my thread.
Toledo and Over. It might happen.......but I wish it were so easy. If it was.....most here wouldn't have a cuss word Dictionary, that is specific and exclusive to Tuesday and Wednesday MAC Football. On paper. Toledo is the better team for sure. Over and Under might be the trickier one based on statistics.
Rare to see NIU as a dog in this conference and for good reason. I remember them being a dog at W. Mich in the MAC championship game (last year?) and they came right out and blew the doors off them. I can promise you NIU will come out expecting to win here, getting a TD sounds good to me in a game they can win SU.
Edit: That W. Mich game was to get into the MAC title game. Won 31-21 as a 7 point dog before blowing out everyone's darling Bowling Green 51-17 in the championship game.
Edit: That W. Mich game was to get into the MAC title game. Won 31-21 as a 7 point dog before blowing out everyone's darling Bowling Green 51-17 in the championship game.
NIU blew that game wide open because that same team ruined their season the previous year.
I haven't picked a play if at all in this game but I do think Toledo is the MAC's ticket to a seat at the table with the big guys. They need Bowling Green and Toledo to run the tables since NIU has already lost. NO way does the MAC support NIU winning this game. (In response to RedElephants.)
