The final Tuesday MACtion game of the season kicks off Tuesday night, in DeKalb, as the Western Michigan Broncos travel to Illinois to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies. The Huskies have nothing to play for, but can spoil Western Michigan’s MAC – West title hopes with a win.
It’s simple, win and in, for the Western Michigan Broncos Tuesday night. If WMU beat Northern Illinois they will win the MAC – West division and will take on Miami Ohio in Detroit next week. If they lose, they will need Toledo to knock off Central Michigan on Friday afternoon. Regardless, the Broncos will be bowling for the second straight season.
Northern Illinois saw their season end last week and will not be bowling for the first time since 2016. A loss Tuesday night would give Northern Illinois their worst season since 2007 when they went 2-10.
Below is my pick for the Western Michigan Broncos at the Northern Illinois Huskies. All lines are from the FanDuel Sportsbook.
Western Michigan Broncos (-7) at Northern Illinois Huskies: O/U 52 points (-105/-115)
Western Michigan had a bye week last week and enter the final week of the regular season nice and rested and ready to win a MAC – West title. Last time out, the Broncos traveled to Ohio and came away with a 37-34 win over the Ohio Bobcats. WMU took a 10-0 lead into the half, and led by seven with less than a minute to go, but the Broncos needed to overtime to come away with the three point victory. The Broncos are just 1-4 on the road this season and 1-3 in conference play when not playing in Kalamazoo. Western Michigan is 5-5-1 against the spread and the under has hit in six of their 11 games this season.
Northern Illinois had a chance to keep their bowl eligibility alive, but fell 45-17, at home, to Eastern Michigan last week. The Huskies found themselves in a 14-0 hole and could never climb out of it thanks to a 24-3 third quarter won by Eastern Michigan. Northern Illinois is now 2-2 at home this season and are 1-1 in DeKalb during conference play. The Huskies are 6-5 against the spread and the over has hit in seven of the 11 games this season, including their last six games.
Series History: Western Michigan now leads the all-time series 25-19 after a 28-21 win last season.
Game Prediction: I am backing Western Michigan -7 as the Broncos clinch a MAC Championship game berth.
YTD College Football Results: 54-45-2