Northern Illinois vs Western Michigan Prediction College Football Picks 11/6/24

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Northern Illinois Huskies

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Western Michigan Broncos

Recent betting trends in games played between NIU and Western Michigan

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for the NIU vs Western Michigan game

Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Preview

The Huskies started out the year with a couple of wins over Western Illinois and Notre Dame, then fell to Buffalo and NC State in the next pair. NIU would repeat the pattern with wins over UMass and Bowling Green ahead of losses to Toledo and Ball State.

In the Ball State matchup on October 26, the Huskies were down 19-14 going into the fourth quarter and couldn’t come back in a loss 25-23. QB Ethan Hampton posted 168 yards with one TD and an interception, while Antario Brown added 62 rush yards and two scores on 11 totes.

Western Michigan Broncos Betting Preview

Over on the Western Michigan side, they lost three of their first four games to Wisconsin, Ohio State, and Marshall (with a lone win over Bethune-Cookman). The Broncos have since won four straight over Ball State, Akron, Buffalo, and Kent State.

Matched up against Kent State in their latest outing, the Broncos were up 38-7 by halftime and cruised to the blowout victory 52-21. Hayden Wolff threw for 208 yards with three scores and a pick. Jaden Nixon led the rush on 135 yards and a TD, while Kenneth Womack caught two balls for 68 yards.

Why the Western Michigan Broncos will win

• Northern Illinois has lost three of its last four games as a favorite against non-AP-ranked teams.
• The underdog has won five of Northern Illinois' last seven games.
• The underdog has covered the spread in each of the last five games between Northern Illinois and Western Michigan at Waldo Stadium.
• Northern Illinois has failed to cover the spread in each of its last four games as a favorite.
• Western Michigan has won the first half in six of its last eight home games against conference opponents.

Why the Northern Illinois Huskies will win

• Western Michigan has lost each of its last nine games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
• The favorite has won each of Western Michigan's last eight games at Waldo Stadium.
• The favorite has covered the spread in four of Western Michigan's last five games.
• Western Michigan has failed to cover the spread in three of its last four games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Northern Illinois' last seven November games as a road favorite has gone OVER the total points line.
• Each of Western Michigan's last five November games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams has gone UNDER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

• Western Michigan ranks 122nd among FBS teams for Q4 opponent points per game this season (9.6).
• Western Michigan ranks T13th among FBS teams for red zone percentage this season (92.9).
• Northern Illinois ranks 127th among FBS teams for Q3 points per game this season (2.4).
• Northern Illinois ranks 8th among FBS teams for time of possession per game this season (33:07).

NIU vs Western Michigan Prediction

I’m going to lean toward Western Michigan. The Broncos are coming off a dominant effort versus an overwhelmed and struggling Kent State team. WMU posted 579 yards of offense (358 rushing), 9.5 yards per play, and 23 first downs in that one. The only real blemish was the eight penalties for 100 yards.

As for NIU, they’re coming off a tough loss to Ball State, coughing up four turnovers along the way and giving up 10-of-18 on third-down tries defensively. The Huskies have failed to crack 23 points in six of the last seven games, so I don’t think they’ll keep pace on the scoreboard here.