UNI vs Kent St NCAA Football Handicapping
The Northern Illinois Huskies have opened their schedule by winning four consecutive non-conference games. Now they will take on the Kent State Golden Flashes in their MAC opener.
Northern Illinois Huskies (4-0) at Kent State Golden Flashes (2-3)
Date: Saturday, October 5, 2013
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Venue: Dix Stadium
City: Kent, Ohio
O/U Odds: 62.5
Spread: Northern Illinois -9
Money Line: Northern Illinois -340, Kent State +285
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Northern Illinois’s non-conference schedule was no cake walk. The team set a MAC record, becoming the first team to beat two Big Ten opponents in the same regular season, even matching a MAC record by winning by a margin of 31 points, and setting a MAC record by scoring 55 points against a Big Ten school, shattering the previous record of 41.
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The Huskie offense came out of the gates hot in their last game against Purdue, scoring on each of their first four series in the game. Quarterback Jordan Lynch keyed the offense as he often does, throwing for 207 yards and three touchdowns. He completed 18 of 25 passes and added 35 yards on nine carries.
Northern Illinois’s defense and special teams came through in a big way in the contest, with the team scoring on a kickoff return, and adding another score on an interception return. The defense forced a total of five turnovers in the game. The unit limited Purdue senior quarterback Rob Henry to just 130 yards passing, completing only five of 16 passes in the game before getting yanked. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Kent State is coming off a big win over Western Michigan, and now has some positives to build on going forward after their disappointing 1-3 start.
A Heisman hopeful entering the season, Dri Archer has been plagued by injuries this season, but he had a decent game against the Broncos, getting up over 50 yards on the ground and adding four grabs for 48 yards, plus a touchdown. That performance is one the coaching staff at Kent State will surely hope he can build off of. Running back Trayion Durham was the star of the show in the team’s 32-14 win over Western Michigan, rushing for 147 yards and a pair of scores, while quarterback Colin Reardon added 176 yards and a pair of scores through the air, with better than 50 yards more accumulated on the ground.
The Kent State defense allowed Western Michigan to get close in the third quarter, with the Broncos cutting the deficit to 15-14 when they scored on a 93-yard drive early in the quarter, but they didn’t score the rest of the way.
These teams each entered the season with some promise and a Heisman hopeful who would put the program on the map, but so far, that blue print has only come to fruition for one of these teams. With two programs heading in very different directions, expect Northern Illinois to cement their spot as the team to beat in the MAC.
The Huskies are 18-7-2 ATS in their last 27 games against conference opponents.
The play: Northern Illinois -9
