College Football Predictions – Northern Illinois Huskies 2020 College Football Preview
July 2020
OCTOBER 2020 update – Schedule notes updated; RB J Nettles opted out.
2019 Recap
Record – 5-7
ATS – 7-5
The Huskies got off to a REALLY rough start and couldn’t recover. They emerged victorious in week one when they took down FCS opponent Illinois St, but then proceeded to lose the next four games in a row. To be fair, the opponents faced during that losing streak were tough, and they kept fighting the rest of the way. They even managed to RAIN ON THE PARADE of the Broncos when they upset them in the final week of the regular season.
HC Thomas Hammock enters his second year on the job and will try and turn this ship around. Does he have the pieces to make it happen? Let’s dig in.
2020 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
West Division – TBD
MAC – TBD
Northern Illinois Huskies 2020 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Huskies have to figure out a way to get the offense in gear. They suffered through their second consecutive season of TRASH OUTPUT and managed a mere 22.8 PPG (#10 MAC) and 359 YPG (#9). Erratic QB play and an inconsistent ground game is not a recipe for success. QB Ross Bowers battled through injuries LY and will have to be a lot better (58%, 7-8 TD to INT LY) in 2020 if the Huskies are to make noise in the MAC West. Bowers did have a 3,000-yard passing season with Cal back in 2018 so it’s not like the situation is without hope. The Huskies return two of their top-three pass catchers including a pair of their fine pass-catching TE Daniel Crawford (37-443, 12.0, 2 TD). . #1 WR Cole Tucker is back along with some promising youngsters. Their other receiving threat at TE Mitchell Brinkman transferred to South Florida. More bad news is the departure of 1,000-yard rusher Tre Harbison who transferred to Charlotte. It’s anyone’s guess who will get significant carries as we head to press. Best case scenario is that one of their freshmen blossoms quickly into a legit #1 option. Three starters return to an offensive that will play a huge role in determining their ability to SCORE THE FOOTBALL, but unfortunately, center Christopher Perez decided to transfer to Temple.
There are more questions than answers. Look for another tough season on offense for the Huskies.
DEFENSE
The stop unit was plagued with injuries LY and didn’t get much help from the offense. They ended up doing a decent job when it was all said and done (#4 MAC total defense) but problems loom on the horizon given the transfer of two of their best players on this side of the ball. DT Jack Heflin was one of the best at his position in the MAC and elected to leave the program for greener pastures, as did DE Matt Lurbeck. That turns the DL from a team strength into a major question mark. They’re set at LB with a pair of solid seniors including Kyle Pugh who missed almost all of last season due to injury (100+ tackles in 2018). The starting secondary is undergoing a total reload and they could be in for a long season if the Huskies have another horrid season rushing the QB (14 sacks, 2nd last MAC to Akron).
It’s hard to imagine anything other than a drop in performance this year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The kicking game is going to be a team strength with the return of PK John Richardson (14/18 FG, 4/7 from 40+ LY) and P Matt Ference is probably the best in the MAC. The return game was dismal LY and note that the Huskies were #130 (!) in KR in 2019.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – The Huskies draw Buffalo out of the MAC East (game one) and follow that up with a game against Central Michigan. Tough start, but at least both of those contests are at home. Three of their final four games are ON THE HIGHWAY.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing heinous noted.
Season Win Total
TBD
MEGALOCKS says:
TBD
MEGAmazing Tidbit
Before last season, the Huskies had made a bowl game in every year but one (2016) since the 2008 campaign. That’s impressive stuff. Sadly, they have lost six straight bowl games dating back to the 2012 ORANGE BOWL when they were pasted by Florida St.
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Our DEEP MAC INSIDERS aren’t crazy about the prospects for the Huskies. The offense is still searching for solid QB play and a successful identity, whilst the defensive lost a couple of key players through the transfer portal. It’s also hard to trust a first-time head coach in this situation, particularly in an improving MAC West. We’ll call for a losing season.
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