Kent St at Northern Illinois – College Football Predictions
The Game
It’s game time, yo.
Northern Illinois has been a powerhouse in the MAC for a long time BUT they had a very disappointing season in 2016. They enter MAC play with a win over YOUR Nebraska Cornhuskers and a near-win over JUGGERNAUT San Diego St. Kent St is an official GREASE FIRE, but to be fair, they have had road games vs Clemson, Marshall and LUA-VUH. The season is slipping away but if they can SHOCK THE WORLD it would make the entire 2017 campaign worth the trouble.
The Details
N ILLINOIS -23.5 KENT ST (49.5)
MEGALOCKS LINE – N Illinois -28
Sagarin Ratings -N Illinois -23
“Vegas” Implied Projected Score: N Illinois 36.5 Kent St 13
Massey Ratings Projected Score: N Illinois 34 Kent St 10
The Match-Up
Northern Illinois offense vs Kent St defense
The Huskies are not statistically relevant at this point BUT they have played a pretty tough schedule. QB Daniel Santacerterinaterinainaina has made some mistakes but definitely adds some
SPICE to the offense. They also rotate in true freshman M Childers and we expect him to get some garbage time experience in this match-up. RB Jordan Huff is an underrated BEAST and WR C Blake is developing into a fine #1 option. Kent St is ranked #115 in the FBS in total defense but have faced some pretty good teams so far (Clemson, LUA-VUH). The Golden Flashes will do well to yield the Huskies to less than 35 points.
Kent St offense vs Northern Illinios defense
What can you say ? Kent St is not to blame for the brutal QB injuries. QB Nick Holley was tougher than a night in jail but is out for the year. So is Mylik Mitchell. RUH ROH. G Bollas had a fine day passing vs Buffalo last week but now faces the best (?) secondary in MAC. True freshman D Crum hit a 70 yard TD pass last week but is not going to be much of a threat vs this EXCELLENT and UNDERRATED N Illinois defense. Despite playing a tough schedule the Huskies are #15 in the FBS in total defense. Kent St is #115 in total offense and STATS GUYS should be aware that this is a much different offense with Bollas at QB. Expect no running game. Even rock solid RB J Rankin is going to have problems. It is hard to imagine Kent St exceeding their team total.
MEGA-MAZING MUNCHIES
Kent St has played the #48 schedule according the Sagarin ratings but the Huskies are close behind at #54…….Before last season’s DEBACLE the Huskies were 14-2 at home in conference play.
Summary
This feels like blowout city. Kent St has played some tough teams but have also been taken out behind the woodshed losing by 53,21 and 38 to FBS teams. The Huskies just might be the best team in the conference (don’t laugh) and this could be a trip down memory lane where they beat the pulp out of the MAC lower tier donkeys.
Official Play
N Illinois -23.5 -110. Play up to -26.5.