The Eastern Michigan Eagles are going bowling again. After failing to make a bowl for the past three decades, the Eagles are looking to head south for the winter this December, but are hoping to tack a few more wins on their resume to help with their choice of destinations. That makes a win in College Football Week 12 against the Northern Illinois Huskies, a team that has dominated them, even more important than usual.
Watch this Week 12 matchup live on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, at 8 p.m. ET at Rynearson Stadium. This game will be broadcast on ESPNU.
College Football Odds at BookMaker.eu
Northern Illinois -3.5
Eastern Michigan +3.5
Odds Analysis
Northern Illinois was dreadful in conference play, but has looked a lot better since MAC play kicked off. The Huskies are 3-3 SU and 4-2 ATS in the MAC even though they play in the much more difficult West and have only lost to teams that are .500 or better.
Eastern Michigan is having its best season in ages and that has extended to Vegas as well. The Eagles are 6-4 SU, but 8-2 ATS and have an impressive four outright wins as an underdog. Six of their last eight games have fallen short of the total.
Last Year’s Meeting
It was all Huskies when these teams met last season. Northern Illinois jumped out to a 35-0 halftime lead and never looked back against an Eastern Michigan side that was clearly outmatched.
Northern Illinois dominated the line of scrimmage, running for 323 yards, and Drew Hare threw four touchdown passes against this defense. In all, the Huskies notched 590 total yards of offense on the Eagles’ defense en route to winning their eighth straight over Eastern Michigan.
Over bettors should take note that last year’s meeting between these two schools went over on the strength of these two teams combining to run 184 plays on the afternoon.
Player to Watch
Ryan Graham was third on the depth chart for Northern Illinois when the season started, but will start each of the last two games under center for the Huskies. Northern Illinois has had bad luck with quarterbacks this season, losing Drew Hare for the season in the second game of the year and then losing Anthony Maddie two weeks ago against Bowling Green.
However, Graham has seen some action this year and hasn’t been bad when given the opportunity. He almost led the Huskies to an upset against Toledo last weekend and was able to move the chains efficiently throughout that game. He finished with 322 total yards of offense and his ability to run the ball and avoid sacks should come in handy here. Eastern Michigan is one of the ten worst passing defenses in the nation in terms of yards allowed per game, so he should have opportunities to pick up chunks of yards through the air.
Free ATS Pick
This game could have a ton of points. Both the Huskies and the Eagles are very susceptible to passing attacks and these teams are allowing 890 yards per game combined. Brogan Roback should put up big numbers against this Northern Illinois defense and if Graham keeps pace, we might be in for a barn burner.
The line here is one of the most curious we’ve seen all season. Northern Illinois is 3-7 and down to its third quarterback on the season, but is a 3.5-point favorite on the road against Eastern Michigan. It’s not like the Eagles haven’t beaten anyone either, having defeated both Wyoming and Ohio earlier this season and played Western Michigan close in Kalamazoo.
Although some would be inclined to take this as a sign that Vegas knows something about this one, Eastern Michigan getting points is too much of a gift to ignore. Take the Eagles on the moneyline.
College Football Odds: Eagles 38, Huskies 34
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