Ball State at Northern Illinois College Football Picks & Predictions 11/9/2017

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Ball State Cardinals head to Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium to play the NIU Huskies on Thursday, November 9, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Northern Illinois as 28.5 point favorites. The Cardinals are 3-6-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 6-3-0. The Huskies are 5-4-0 against the spread and their over/under mark is 3-6-0.

Valuable Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends

The Ball State Cardinals are 6-3-0 against the over/under

The Ball State Cardinals are 3-6-0 against the spread

Important NIU Huskies Betting Trends

The NIU Huskies are 3-6-0 against the over/under

The NIU Huskies are 5-4-0 against the spread

Key Ball State Cardinals Injuries

11/05/17 OL Kaleb Slaven Foot is out for season
11/02/17 WR Jordan Hogue Back is "?"
10/29/17 QB Zack Blair Ankle is out for season
10/18/17 RB James Gilbert Hand is out indefinitely
10/01/17 QB Riley Neal Leg out indefinitely
09/26/17 WR Corey Lacanaria Collarbone out indefinitely
09/14/17 OL Alex Joss ACL out indefinitely

Key NIU Huskies Injuries

11/02/17 RB Jordan Huff Leg is "?"
11/02/17 QB Ryan Graham Elbow is "?"
10/04/17 LB Kyle Pugh Bicep out for season

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Ball State Cardinals are 117th in the country in points scored with 167. They have run 675 plays this year for 3,057 yards, which ranks them 94th in Division 1 in total offense. The Cardinals average 4.5 yards per play, which is 126th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 168 1st downs this season, ranking them 101st overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Ball State has run for 1,334 yards as a unit, which ranks 80th in college football. They've run 358 times, averaging 3.7 yards per rush as a unit. The Cardinals have been penalized on offense 37 times for 364 yards so far this year, which has them 121st in the country in penalties. Drew Plitt has passed for 266 yards this year. He's completed 26 throws while attempting 55 passes for a completion percentage of 47.3%. His quarterback rating this season is 96.3. He averages 4.7 adjusted yards per throw and 4.8 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Ball State is 124th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 357. They have given up a total of 3,788 yards on D, which is 87th in D-1. The Cardinals are 120th in yards per play allowed with 6.6. Opponent offenses have completed 144 throws on 237 attempts against the Ball State Cardinals defense this season, ranking them 28th and 16th in the nation. The Ball State pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,094 yards in the air, which is 83rd overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 334 attempts for 1,694 yards this season, putting them in 90th place in the country against the run. The Cardinals have had 41 penalties for 411 yards on defense this year. That places them 40th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Ball State is 109th in the country in punt returns with 8. They've totaled 87 punt return yards and average 10.9 yards per return, which is 29th in D-1. They have returned 34 kicks for 800 yards on special teams, which puts them 6th in kick return yardage. The Cardinals average 24 yards per kick return and they are 97th in the nation in all-purpose yards with 3,945. The Ball State Cardinals have tried 13 field goals this year and made 7, which is 102nd in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 54%. Ball State Cardinals kickers have made 95% of their extra points, going 20 for 21 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,934 yards on 53 punts, averaging 37 yards per punt. That ranks them 128th in the NCAA in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Huskies have run for 1,673 yards as a team, which ranks 43rd in college football. They've run 392 times, averaging 4.3 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The NIU Huskies have been penalized on offense 62 times for 581 yards so far this season, which has them 39th in the country in penalties. They are 74th in the nation in points scored with 240. They have run 700 plays this season for 3,647 yards, which ranks them 75th in Division 1 in total offense. Northern Illinois averages 5.2 yards per play, which is 102nd in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 195 1st downs this year, placing them 48th overall as an offensive unit. Marcus Childers averages 6.5 yards per pass attempt and 6.8 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 101 passes on 170 attempts for a completion percentage of 59.4%. His quarterback rating this year is 128.3. He has thrown for 1,112 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The NIU Huskies rush defense has allowed 354 attempts for 1,015 yards this year, putting them in 11th place in D-1 against the run. Northern Illinois has committed 60 penalties for 605 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 107th in college football. They are 25th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 171. They have surrendered a total of 2,989 yards on D, which is 32nd in the country. The Huskies are ranked 10th in yards per play allowed with 4.6. Opposing offenses have completed 161 passes on 291 attempts against the Northern Illinois defense this season, placing them 63rd and 83rd in Division 1. The NIU Huskies pass defense has also given up a total of 1,974 yards through the air, which is 61st overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The NIU Huskies have attempted 15 field goals this season and made 8, which is 90th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 53%. Northern Illinois kickers have made 100% of their extra points, going 30 for 30 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,536 yards on 61 punts, averaging 42 yards per punt. That places them 75th in Division 1 in punting average. Northern Illinois is ranked 10th in the nation in punt returns with 21. They've accumulated 105 punt return yards and average 5 yards per return, which is 96th in college football. They have returned 22 kicks for 457 yards on special teams, ranking 83rd in kick return yardage. The NIU Huskies average 21 yards per kick return and they are 65th in the country in all-purpose yards with 4,209.

Who will win tonight's Cardinals/Huskies college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Huskies -28.5

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