The Northern Illinois Huskies dipped under the double-digit win plateau in 2015, but with a returning quarterback, hopes to push back up again this season. The start shouldn’t be too tough as they take on the Wyoming Cowboys, who are coming off a poor season and are breaking in a new signal-caller. Northern Illinois may be on the road but it still enters this Week 1 regular season matchup as a comfortable favorite.
This contest in Week 1 of the regular season will go down Saturday, September 3, 2016, at 10:30 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming.
NCAA Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Northern Illinois -10
Wyoming +10
Over/Under 55
Odds Analysis
Northern Illinois is one of the biggest road favorites during the first week of the regular season. It’s never without risk, as home teams can sometimes keep it close even if their talent level doesn’t equal their opponents. The gambling money is coming in a little bit more on Wyoming, but not to an overwhelming extent.
The bettors have targeted one wager in this game. The scoring total of 55 has been deemed too high as gamblers are hammering the “under” at an 85 percent clip. They clearly believe this one is going to be lower-scoring than expected.
Player to Watch
Northern Illinois quarterback Drew Hare could be a giant role in the outcome of this showdown. Hare has started for the past two seasons for the Huskies. He threw for 2,322 yards and 18 touchdowns against only two interceptions as a sophomore. Hare accumulated 1,962 passing yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions a season ago but in only nine games.
Hare is healthy and looking for a great cap to a prestigious career. He will go against a Wyoming secondary that allowed nearly 250 yards per game through the air a season ago. However, the Cowboys do return all four of their starting defensive backs as they hope to slow down the Northern Illinois offense led by Hare.
Look-Ahead Situation
Teams are generally amped up for the regular season opener, so common sense would say Northern Illinois would be raring and ready to go for this showdown.However, the opponent is so inferior that it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the team looked forward.
The Huskies have to travel for a second straight game in Week 2 of the regular season, and all the way down to Florida to take on the South Florida Bulls. They won eight games a season ago and could be a tough opponent. With that in mind, Northern Illinois may not be totally focused on dominating Wyoming and that could be key when it comes to which team covers the spread.
Free ATS Pick
Wyoming can be competitive in this game if its offense is better than a season ago, when the group averaged only 19 points per contest. Josh Allen is expected to take over at quarterback but faces a Northern Illinois defense that was good against the pass.
Wyoming plays at home so it hopes to keep the crowd in it by being competitive early. If the Huskies can take control they may be able to turn this one into a laugher.
Even though the Cowboys are coming off a poor season, they are feeling better about the personnel this year and may be able to keep this one competitive. While Northern Illinois should come away with the win, the Cowboys can cover, and the “under” could narrowly be the right call.
College Football Odds: Northern Illinois 31, Wyoming 23
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