MACtion continues into Week 12 when the 4-6 Miami of Ohio RedHawks meet the 3-7 Northern Illinois Huskies.
The RedHawks are coming off a tough home loss to the Ohio Bobcats, and the Huskies had a solid 24-21 away victory over Western Michigan.
Who will win this MACtion clash? Find out in our free college football betting picks and predictions for Miami (OH) vs. Northern Illinois on Wednesday, November 16.
Miami (OH) vs Northern Illinois best odds
Miami (OH) vs Northern Illinois picks and predictions
On what should be a cold, snowy night, the defenses will prevail, and my best bet is for this contest to end Under the 47.5-point total.
The RedHawks' defense is their calling card. They rank first in points allowed (23), third in total yards (368), first in rushing yards (113), and fifth in passing yards allowed (252).
The Huskies' offense has had their share of issues, but the main problem has been at the QB position. Rocky Lombardi has missed six games and is questionable for this tilt. Ethan Hampton has missed the past two contests. Frosh QB Nevan Cremascoli will likely make a start, and he’s thrown more interceptions than TDs.
NIU has the second-best rushing offense — although leading rusher Harrison Waylee missed last week — but frosh RB Jaiden Credle romped for 136 yards and a TD against WMU. Sophomore RB Antario Brown also missed last week, and his status is unclear for Wednesday. Either way, it will be difficult for whoever carries the ball to eat against the MAC’s top rushing defense.
The Huskies' defense isn’t as stout as the RedHawks as they are ninth in points allowed, sixth in total yards, 11th in rushing yards, and ninth in passing yards allowed per conference game. They’re lucky they face the worst passing offense in the MAC with a seventh-ranked ground game.
Junior QB Brett Gabbert has missed six games this season but threw for 244 yards and three TDs last week against Ohio. Gabbert isn’t the most mobile QB — sophomore RB Keyon Mozee is the teams leading rusher — but he’s put up meager numbers. Senior wideout Mac Hippenhammer hauled in all three TD passes last week and leads the team with seven TD receptions.
Both offenses have numerous injuries and use third and fourth-string underclassmen at the skill positions. Miami scores via the air, and the snowy conditions will make that task extremely difficult. The RedHawks have been largely unsuccessful running the ball, but they could gain some traction against a bad NIU rushing defense.
NIU is facing the best rushing defense in the conference, but we don’t know who is even playing. It will have difficulty running against the solid Miami rushing defense. The weather will win on Wednesday, and my best bet is Under 47.5 points.
My best bet: Under 47.5 (-110 at FanDuel)
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Miami (OH) vs Northern Illinois spread analysis
NIU is a -2 favorite at home, but I lean toward taking the points or playing Miami on the money line at +110.
The RedHawks have more motivation, and at 4-6, they have an outside chance at a postseason bowl invitation — but they have to win out their schedule. The offense is Bottom 25 in most categories, and if they win, it will be the defense leading the way. Miami has a +7 turnover margin, and the Huskies team is at +2.
The NIU offense averages 29 points per contest but has scored 63 points over its last three. The Huskies are not the same offense without Lombardi and/or Hampton, and if neither suits up, Miami will win this game.
Both sides are 4-6 ATS. Miami is 2-3 ATS as the away team, and Northern Illinois is 0-4 ATS at Huskie Stadium.
Miami (OH) vs Northern Illinois Over/Under analysis
We’ve already discussed why the Under is my best bet, but here are some additional notes.
It will be a frigid and snowy night in Dekalb, and the forecast calls for snow throughout the day and into late at night. With limited visibility and two inches of snow in the forecast, it will be challenging to move the ball.
The Over is 7-3 in the Huskies' first 10 games but just 1-3 over the previous four with all of the quarterback injuries. Miami is sixth in the conference in sacks facing an NIU offensive line allowing a MAC-best 10 sacks.
Miami (OH) vs Northern Illinois betting trend to know
The Under is 6-1 in RedHawks' last seven games overall. Find more NCAA betting trends for Miami (OH) vs. Northern Illinois.
Miami (OH) vs Northern Illinois game info
| Location: | Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, IL |
| Date: | Wednesday, November 16, 2022 |
| Kickoff: | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | CBSSN |
Miami (OH) vs Northern Illinois latest injuries
Miami (OH) vs Northern Illinois weather
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