Kent State (7-5, 6-2 MAC) will meet Northern Illinois (8-4, 6-2 MAC) for the MAC Championship on Saturday at Ford Field. Kent State has won two in a row heading into the championship, and their offense is why they are here. They score 31 points per game, which ranks 38th among FBS programs. Their defense is a bit of a sticking point, as they permit 36.8 points per game. Northern Illinois advanced to the title game thanks to their win over Central Michigan, which gave them the tiebreaker. The offense puts up 29.8 points per game, but the defense permits 35.3, so when the Huskies lose, they tend to lose by a lot.
Let’s break down this college football betting decision.
NCAAF Preview: MAC Championship (Saturday, December 4)
Kent State Golden Flashes vs Northern Illinois Huskies
When: Saturday, December 4, 2021, 12:00 pm ET
Where: Ford Field, Detroit
TV: ESPN
Radio: No National Broadcast
Live Stream: Hulu
NFL Odds: Kent State -3.5 / O/U 74.5 // Kent State -160 / Northern Illinois +140
Why should you bet on the Golden Flashes?
Quarterback Dustin Crumm is the driving force for the Kent State offense. He has 2,813 passing yards in 12 games, off 217 completions, so he gets the ball down the field. His 15:4 TD:INT ratio is solid in terms of ball security. Marquez Cooper leads the rushing attack with 1,075 yards on 211 carries, with 11 touchdowns.
In their last game, Kent State took down Miami (OH) in overtime despite blowing an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter. Crumm put the team on his back in that one, throwing for 325 yards and a pair of scores. In their last four games as the favorite, Kent State has covered each time. In their last five games overall, the Golden Flashes have covered four times. For the season, they are 6-6 against the spread, so their performance for bettors has improved significantly. In MAC play, Kent State is 5-3 ATS.
Why should you put your money on the Huskies?
The ground game is where it’s at for the NIU offense. Jeveyon Ducker led the team with 892 yards and also picked up three touchdowns. Clint Ratkovich was the second option, running for 424 yards. Rocky Lombardi threw for 2,314 yards in 12 games, but this season advances on the ground.
The defense struggled in the last game of the year, as Western Michigan picked up 636 yards. NIU ran the ball for 268 yards and could only throw for 23, and picked up just nine first downs. Against the spread this season, NIU is 7-4-1; against Western Michigan, they were seven-point underdogs and ended up losing by 21. Given the disparity in the two offenses, NIU could really struggle to compete in this game.
Final Score and Betting Prediction
Expect Kent State to pound the ball on the ground, given the hard time that Northern Illinois has stopping the running game. They permit 255.9 yards on the ground per game, so Kent State’s offense could be hard to get off the field. NIU is a deserving divisional champion, but I don’t see them hanging around with the Golden Flashes. I predict a final score of Kent State 33, Northern Illinois 16.
Kent State Golden Flashes vs Northern Illinois Huskies: Bet the Game Today
College Football Betting Odds
Love betting NCAA football games? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date college football lines
