The Northern Illinois Huskies will travel to Starkville to face the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday. Mississippi State enters the game with an undefeated 3-0 record and a power conference win under their belt already. Northern Illinois has a 1-1 record and will try to stand up to an SEC opponent on the road. Here, I break down this matchup and give you my Northern Illinois vs Mississippi State prediction.
Our Northern Illinois vs Mississippi State Pick
- Pick: Northern Illinois +23.5
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
- Get Your Bonus Bets: Bet $5 and get $200 in bonus bets INSTANTLY using our DraftKings Sportsbook bonus. Click the Claim Bonus button below to start!
Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly + Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+ 
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+
Promo Code: Click To Claim
Bet $5, Get $200 in Bonus Bets Instantly + Over $200 Off NFL Sunday Ticket
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+
Promo Code: Click To Claim
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Northern Illinois Huskies vs Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Date & Time: Saturday, September 20, 2025, 4:15 PM ET
- Venue: Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field, Starkville, MS
- Broadcast: SEC Network
Key Storylines
Quarterback Play
Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen has been instrumental in the team’s success. He has thrown for 724 yards and six touchdowns with a 68.8% completion rate. His performance has been a significant factor in the Bulldogs’ offensive efficiency.
Northern Illinois has struggled in the passing game, accumulating only 200 total passing yards through two games. Josh Holst has 192 passing yards, no touchdowns, and one interception so far this season.
Defensive Strengths
Both teams have strong defenses. Northern Illinois ranks in the top 15 nationally in run defense, allowing just 74 yards per game. Linebackers Quinn Urwiler and Filip Maciorowski have been standout performers, contributing significantly to the Huskies’ defensive efforts.
Mississippi State’s defense has shown improvement, ranking in the top 25 nationally in scoring and pass defense. The Bulldogs’ defensive unit has been effective in limiting opponents’ scoring opportunities. They will be expected to impose their will on Northern Illinois’ offense.
Betting Trends & H2H
- Mississippi State has covered the spread in each of its last four games. They are 3-0 against the spread to start this season.
- Northern Illinois has covered the spread in 13 of its last 17 games as an underdog. They are 1-1 against the spread to start this year.
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Northern Illinois’ last 7 games on the road. The Huskies have seen their first two games go under the total this season.
- The total has gone OVER in 8 of Mississippi State’s last 9 home games against non-AP-ranked teams. They have gone under the total in two of their first three games.
- Mississippi State has won 15 of its last 16 games against non-conference opponents at Davis Wade Stadium.
Northern Illinois vs Mississippi State Model Projection
- Score Projection: Mississippi State 34 – Northern Illinois 13
- Win Probability: Mississippi State 87.9%, Northern Illinois 12.1%
Final Thoughts
I do expect Mississippi State to win handily in this game and to improve to 4-0 on the season. But I am going to take the points with the Northern Illinois Huskies in this contest. The defense of Northern Illinois should keep them within a respectable distance in this contest. And while I don’t see the Huskies doing much scoring, they will keep this game within three scores.
