Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. ET at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Illinois.
Ohio is a -7.0 point favorite with a 47-point total at Caesars Sportsbook for this important MAC Conference matchup.
Can Northern Illinois pull off the upset? Find out when we share our prediction and best bets for Ohio vs. Northern Illinois on Saturday, October 14.
Ohio Five Game Winning Streak
After falling in the season opener to San Diego State, the Bobcats have reeled off five consecutive victories to give them a 5-1 mark and a perfect 2-0 record in conference play.
Normally, we begin with the offense, but Ohio wins games because they allow the nation’s 4th fewest yards and 5th fewest points per game. The 17 points they allowed last week at home to Kent State were the most points allowed in any game since the 20 points surrendered in their 20-17 opening night away loss to San Diego State.
How many times have we watched this? Yes.#OUohyeah | @MilesCross10 pic.twitter.com/r0SRmwB0F0
— Ohio Football (@OhioFootball) October 7, 2023
Senior QB Kurtis Rourke is starting to get comfortable after recovering from a late-season injury in 2022. He slung it for 300 yards with three scoring strikes for his second consecutive game with three TD passes. He’s a capable runner, has three solid receiving options, and a pair of RBs with over 200 rushing yards per game.
Northern Illinois Snaps Four-Game Losing Streak
After opening their season with a 27-24 OT upset victory over Boston College, Northern Illinois suffered four straight losses before destroying Akron in Week 6, 55-19. The Huskies are 2-4 on the season and 1-1 in MAC action.
This was the second consecutive game NIU scored over 33 points, and they need to as they allow a 61st-best 24 points per game. Over the past two games, Antario Brown has scampered for 432 yards with four rushing TDs, and QB Rocky Lombardi has thrown four TD passes without an interception.
Five receivers have 100+ receiving yards, but leading wideout Kacper Rutkiewicz left last week’s game against Akron and is questionable for Saturday.
What can Brown do for you?!
4⃣ TDs now for @S1imeBrown!@NIU_Football | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/oEVHWLuGV9
— #MACtion (@MACSports) October 7, 2023
Defensively, the Huskies have been hit or miss. They allowed 14 points at Akron last week, but the Zips were missing their starting QB. They allowed 35 points at Toledo and haven’t allowed less than 14 points this season. NIU ranks No. 100 against the rush but No. 13 against the pass this season.
Ohio vs. Northern Illinois Best Bet
We have two offenses with multiple ways of scoring the football, and my best bet is Over 45 (-110) at DraftKings Ohio.
DraftKings opened this game at 47 points, which went down to 45 because rain and wind are in the forecast for Saturday afternoon in Dekalb.
These are two good offenses that have underperformed a bit but are starting to turn the corner, and frankly, MAC teams are used to playing in inclement weather, such as what might happen on Saturday.
Rourke is getting comfortable, and the Bobcats have scored 80 points over their last two contests. NIU and Lombardi are finding the end zone more often and have scored 33 points or more in each of their past two contests.
Finally, both teams can score points in multiple ways, and I expect this game to exceed the bookies’ total. Play the Over 45 (-110) at DraftKings!
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