Northern Illinois vs. Ball State odds, line, spread: 2023 Week 11 MACtion predictions from computer model
The Ball State Cardinals attempt to post their first road victory of the season when they visit the Northern Illinois Huskies on Tuesday for a MACtion showdown. Ball State (2-7, 1-4) is 0-5 away from home this year and has lost seven straight on the road since posting a 27-20 win at Kent State on Nov. 1, 2022. Northern Illinois (4-5, 3-2) had its three-game winning streak halted last week at Central Michigan but the Huskies have won their last two home contests.
Kickoff at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill. is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. The Huskies are 9.5-point favorites in the latest Northern Illinois vs. Ball State odds, while the over/under for total points scored is 44. Before making any Ball State vs. Northern Illinois picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, it has generated a stunning profit of well over $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Northern Illinois vs. Ball State and just revealed its picks and MACtion predictions. You can visit SportsLine to see the model's CFB picks. Here are several college football odds and trends for Ball State vs. Northern Illinois:
- Northern Illinois vs. Ball State spread: Huskies -9.5
- Northern Illinois vs. Ball State over/under: 44 points
- Northern Illinois vs. Ball State money line: Huskies -351, Cardinals +271
- NIU: The Huskies are 1-3 against the spread as favorites this season
- BSU: The Cardinals 1-3-1 ATS on the road this year
- Northern Illinois vs. Ball State picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Northern Illinois vs. Ball State live stream: fubo (try for free)
Why Northern Illinois can cover
The Huskies suffered a 37-31 loss at Central Michigan last week but saw Rocky Lombardi come up with his best performance of the year. The senior quarterback passed for 298 yards and three touchdowns while running for 31 yards. Lombardi was not sacked and threw one interception, his first in six contests.
Northern Illinois scored 28 of its 31 points in the second half, which the team has thrived in lately. The Huskies have been strong on both sides of the ball after intermission in their last four games as they have amassed 74 points while allowing only 23. The team has been especially stingy defensively in the fourth quarter during this span, keeping opponents off the scoreboard in the final 15 minutes, and has given up just one score in the final period during conference play in 2023. See which team to pick here.
Why Ball State can cover
After losing 10 consecutive meetings with the Huskies, the Cardinals have had the upper hand in the series of late, winning three of the last four matchups. Ball State posted a 44-38 victory against Northern Illinois last year as it rallied from a 10-point deficit with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter before winning in double overtime. Tight end Tanner Koziol played a major role in the comeback as he made a pair of touchdown catches in the fourth, including one with 36 seconds remaining.
Ball State racked up 217 yards on the ground in last week's 24-21 loss at Bowling Green, with sophomore quarterback Kiael Kelly and junior running back Marquez Cooper each gaining 90. Kelly, who rushed for 83 yards in his only appearance last season, has recorded at least 90 rushing yards in three of his last four contests. He's also ran for two TDs in back-to-back games. Cooper eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark in each of his last two campaigns with Kent State and needs 326 to accomplish the feat in his first year with the Cardinals. See which team to pick here.
How to make Northern Illinois vs. Ball State picks
SportsLine's model is going Over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 52 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in more than 50% of simulations. You can only see the model's pick at SportsLine.
