Southern Illinois Salukis vs North Dakota Fighting Hawks Prediction, 2/20/2021 FCS Pick, Tips and Odds
Game: Southern Illinois Salukis vs North Dakota Bison
Date: Saturday, February 20, 2021
Location: Alerus Center in Grand Forks, ND
TV: ESPN+
Odds/Point Spread: Southern Illinois (-3.5)
Alerus Center is the site where and the North Dakota Fighting Hawks (0-0) will take on the Southern Illinois Salukis (0-1) on Saturday. The line on this contest has Southern Illinois as 3.5-point favorites. The total has been set at 48.5.
In their last game Southern Illinois played the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks and ended up getting the win by a score of 20-17. Kare Lyles went 15/27 with 152 yards passing and completed 1 touchdown. He tossed 2 picks in the game. Javon Williams Jr. led the team in rushing for the game. He had a long run of 40 yards and he notched 1 touchdown during the game. He scurried for 135 yards on 23 carries which meant he was running for 5.9 yards per tote. Avante Cox led the team in receiving yardage with a total of 74 yards on 9 receptions. He had an average of 8.2 yards per catch for the game. The Southern Illinois Salukis ran the ball a total of 46 times and earned 260 yards giving them an average of 5.7 yards per run. In all, they ran 73 plays which added up to 412 yards. In the game, the Salukis racked up 22 1st downs and they had 5 penalties for 45 yards.
When discussing the defense, Southern Illinois allowed 6 completions on 15 tries for a total of 53 yards, and a completion percentage of 40.0%. In the running game, the Salukis allowed 281 yards on 46 runs which gave them an average of 6.1 yards per rushing attempt allowed. In the game, they gave up 334 yards and earned 2 turnovers.
In terms of getting in the endzone, the Southern Illinois Salukis averaged 28.3 PPG. Southern Illinois had a tally of 339 points and compiled 46 TDs, while holding an average of 31:40 mins of ball control per contest. Southern Illinois totaled 89 passing first downs and 136 first downs on the ground.
In their last outing North Dakota faced the Nicholls Colonels and ended up taking the loss by a score of 24-6. Luke Skokna led the team on the ground during the game. His longest run of the day went for 8 yards but wasn't able to convert a rushing touchdown. He ran for 19 yards on 4 carries which had him averaging 4.8 yards per run. Travis Toivonen was the receiving yardage leader by earning 121 yards on 10 catches. He averaged 12.1 yards per reception during the game. Nate Ketteringham went 27/47 with 269 yards passing but wasn't able to get any balls in the endzone via the pass. He threw 1 pick during the game. The North Dakota Fighting Hawks ran the ball 14 times and earned a total of 44 yards giving them an average of 3.1 yards per carry. On the day, the Fighting Hawks got 21 1st downs and they totaled 4 infractions for 35 yards. In all, they finished with a total of 62 plays for a total of 316 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, North Dakota allowed 14 completions on 16 throws for a total of 165 yards, and a completion percentage of 0.0%. In the game, they gave up a total of 481 yards and forced 1 turnover. On the ground, the Fighting Hawks allowed 316 yards on 50 carries which is an average of 6.3 yards per carry allowed.
Averaging 28:26 minutes per game when it comes to time of possession, the Fighting Hawks recorded 41 touchdowns and 451 points last year. In relation to putting points on the board, the Fighting Hawks maintained an average of 37.6 points per game. They notched 76 first downs by way of the rush as well as 155 first downs through the air over the course of last year.Who will win tonight's FCS game against the spread?
Josh Schonwald's Pick: Take Southern Illinois (-3.5)
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