BetUS $500 Match Bonus
Sign up for a new account with BetUS and deposit $500 or more to get a $500 match bonus!

$20 Free Play at Sportsbook.com
Your first bet is free when you open a new account at sportsbook.com!

Northern Illinois vs. Ball State Football Betting Odds & Spread

Written November 4, 2008 by Jason Lowry

This week the Northern Illinois Huskies will try and ruin the No. 16 ranked Ball State Cardinals perfect season, when the two teams lock up on Wednesday night. Now the Huskies have a shot in this one, as they are now 5-3 on the season after 3 straight wins at home, but beating the Cardinals will be no easy task, as they bring in their 8-0 record and a convincing win over Eastern Michigan last week. The oddsmakers are thinking the Cardinals will continue on their way with another win, as Ball State comes in 9 point favorites over Northern Illinois at Bookmaker.com

Before the 3 game winning streak, you likely wouldn’t of thought of this game as being to much of a problem for Ball State, but we really think the Huskies will come in fired up and very confident. The Huskies had one of their more impressive wins on the season beating Bowling Green last week, and while the offense didn’t come to play last week, as quarterback Chandler Harnish became the first Huskies quarterback to run for a 100 yards since 1990. Now the offense isn’t very flashy, and just needs to keep hold of the football and let its defense do the work.

20% Bonus and Early Lines at Bookmaker!

Now the defense has been playing pretty tough over the Huskies solid run after the two losses to start the season, as they are giving up a little over 7 points a game over their last 6 games, meaning you have to think it can at least keep the Ball State offense under control, and not let them put up a big number. The offense will have to score for the Huskies to win, but a couple big turnovers by the defense and they might be able to take some of that pressure off the offense. Bet Northern Illinois +9 at Bookmaker.com

Now as good as things look for the Huskies in this one, we are talking about a very solid Ball State football team, that hasn’t let a single team finish within 10 points of them. The Ball State offense is a big reason for their success, and the fact that they have a quarterback that can really throw the football in Nate Davis, and a quality back out of the backfield in MiQuale Lewis, who should break the 1,000 yard mark on the season this week. There is no question that the Huskies defense has played tuff of late, but you have to think it won’t have the same intensity without the home crowd screaming at your back, so we think the Cardinals will be able to put at least 20 on the Huskies defense.

The question is, will that be enough to win this football game? The way the season has went for Ball State you would think it would be, but with the way upsets seem to be happing in college football of late, no team seems safe. After giving up over 20 a game in the first two games to start conference play, the Cardinals have given up just 16 points in its last two games. This will be a real good test for the Cardinals defense, as a win here gets them one step closer to possibly finishing in the top 10 this season. Bet Ball State -9 at Bookmaker.com

See who Jason Lowry has winning this week in the NCAA and NFL with plenty of great plays to choose from.