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Through 3 Quarters
The Western Michigan Broncos were expected to win this one, and they are just one quarter away from fulfilling that expectation. After three quarters it's looking more and more like their high-powered offense is just too much for the Northern Illinois Huskies as the Broncos lead 35-14.
WMU has been led by WR Skyy Moore, who so far has caught 12 passes for four TDs and 206 yards. One of the most thrilling moments was Moore's 50-yard TD reception in the second quarter.
NIU has been riding high on the performance of RB Clint Ratkovich, who has rushed for one TD and 97 yards on four carries. That touchdown -- a 96-yard rush in the second quarter -- was one of the highlights of the game.
Who's Playing
Western Michigan @ Northern Illinois
Current Records: Western Michigan 6-5; Northern Illinois 8-3
What to Know
The Western Michigan Broncos and the Northern Illinois Huskies are even-steven against one another since November of 2015 (3-3), but not for long. The Broncos will hit the road for the second straight week as they head to Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday. The defensive coordinators will surely put in extra hours ahead of this matchup since these teams' offenses combined for 978 yards last week.
WMU had victory within their grasp but couldn't quite capture it on Tuesday as the team lost 22-21 to the Eastern Michigan Eagles. The losing side was boosted by WR Skyy Moore, who caught 12 passes for one TD and 181 yards. Moore hadn't helped his team much against the Akron Zips last Tuesday, so this was a nice turnaround for him.
Speaking of close games: it may have taken overtime to finish the job, but the Huskies ultimately got the result they were hoping for on Wednesday with a 33-27 win over the Buffalo Bulls. The score was all tied up at the break 10-10, but NIU was the better team in the second half. WR Trayvon Rudolph was the offensive standout of the contest for NIU, punching in one rushing touchdown in addition to catching four passes for 80 yards. That touchdown -- a 75-yard rush in the second quarter -- was one of the highlights of the game.
WMU is the favorite in this one, with an expected 6.5-point margin of victory. Now might not be the best time to take WMU against the spread since they've let down bettors for the past four consecutive games.
The Broncos are now 6-5 while the Huskies sit at 8-3. A pair of defensive numbers to keep in mind before kickoff: WMU is 216th worst in the nation in passing touchdowns allowed, with 22 on the season. NIU has experienced some struggles of their own as they are stumbling into the game with the 239th most rushing touchdowns allowed in the nation, having given up 29 on the season. It's possible one of these Achilles' heels will wind up tripping the losing team up.
How To Watch
- When: Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET
- Where: Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium -- DeKalb, Illinois
- TV: ESPN University
- Online streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)
- Follow: CBS Sports App
- Ticket Cost: $12.00
Odds
The Broncos are a solid 6.5-point favorite against the Huskies, according to the latest college football odds.
The line on this game has moved quite a bit since it opened, as it started out with the Broncos as a 3.5-point favorite.
Over/Under: -109
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Series History
Northern Illinois and Western Michigan both have three wins in their last six games.
- Nov 28, 2020 - Western Michigan 30 vs. Northern Illinois 27
- Nov 26, 2019 - Northern Illinois 17 vs. Western Michigan 14
- Nov 20, 2018 - Western Michigan 28 vs. Northern Illinois 21
- Nov 15, 2017 - Northern Illinois 35 vs. Western Michigan 31
- Oct 08, 2016 - Western Michigan 45 vs. Northern Illinois 30
- Nov 18, 2015 - Northern Illinois 27 vs. Western Michigan 19
