(MAC) NIU Huskies
Up in DeKalb the Huskies have been one of the best programs in college football over the last few seasons. It starts with domination in the MAC but they have also challenged teams from the power conference, earning a BCS spot in the process a couple of years ago.
West Virginia
- Northern Illinois Huskies
- Coach: Rod Carey
- 2013 Record: 12-2
- Gambling Odds to win National Championship: +80000
- Gambling Odds to win (MAC) conference: +275
This season they will look to continue that kind of success amidst much lower expectations. This may not be as good a team as what we have seen but I wouldd still bet against them with hesitation.
Strengths
The key to the Huskies recent success has been a dominant ground game – they were 7th in the nation last season. They should be able to continue that kind of success again thanks to the fact that they have 4 returning offensive linemen with all 5 being upper classmen.
LT Tyler Loos is an NFL prospect.
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There will be a new starting quarterback this season but he will be aided by the return of the complete set of skill players from a year ago. Cameron Stingily is a load in the backfield at 240+ whill Tommylee Lewis is one of the shiftiest receivers in the nation.
There is no reason they can not be among the most productive offensive teams in the nation again.
The unit on defense with the most experience returning is the secondary. They need that unit ot be significantly improved this season to given the rest of the defense a real chance to be good enoughto lead the Huskies to anther MAC title game.
The competition is better than it has been lately.
Weaknesses
Jordan Lynch has been one of the most productive QBs over the last couple of season, including being the second leading rusher in college football last season.
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This year they are looking to Matt McIntosh to take over but he has little game experience. If he is not up to the b this will be a difference NIU team.
This was a better than average defensive team last season against the run but none of the defensive linemen from last year return. The line is going to be a little light and right now lacks a playmaking presence.
If this group doesn’t develop it will affect everything this team tries to do this season.
The non-conference schedule this season very challenning with road games to Northwestern, Arkansas, and even a trip to UNLV might not be all that pleasant. The Huskies have increased their reputation with wins over the likes of B10 programs Iowa and Purdue last season.
Those are going to be a lot tougher this season.
NIU Gambling Prediction: 9-3
2014 NIU Schedule
- Aug 28 – Presbyterian
- Sep 6 – @Norhwestern
- Sep 13 – @UNLV
- Sep 20 – @Arkansas
- Oct 4 – Kent State
- Oct 11 – Central Michigan
- Oct 18 – Miami (Ohio)
- Oct 25 – @Eastern Michigan
- Nov 5 – @Ball State
- Nov 11 – Toledo
- Nov 18 – @Ohio
- Nov 28 – @Western Michigan
The Huskies will be a little down this season, but that is relative to the high level of success they have had lately. I think they are going to find times pretty tough against the likes of Northwestern and Arkansas.
Once they get into MAC play we should start to see the team we are used to and I look forward to the battle between Toledo and NIU in November. That one might go the rockest way this season.
Look to get onto the underdog in that one.
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