AAA's 10* MAC CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER (NIU/BG ON FRIDAY NIGHT!)
(NCAAF) Northern Illinois vs. Bowling Green, 12/05/2014 2:00 PM, Score: 51 - 17
Point Spread: -6.50 | -105.00 Northern Illinois (Away)
Result: Win
This is a 10* MAC CHAMPIONSHIP WINNER on Northern Illinois.

For a number of different reasons I believe that Northern Illinois will pull away down the stretch for the comfortable ATS cover and the MAC Championship title. This is a revenge game for NIU after Bowling Green took last season's crown. Neither of these teams are the same ones from last year, but somehow each managed to navigate through the regular season to this point; note that BG finished 7-5 overall and 5-3 in conference, while NIU was 10-2 overall and 7-1 in league play. Bowling Green got the job done with tough defensive play in 2013, but the unit has slipped to below average in the MAC, which I believe will spell doom today vs. this explosive Huskies offense. Also note that Bowling Green QB Matt Johnson, who threw for five TD's in last year's Championship game, obviously won't be participating today after he was lost in the first outing of the year vs. Western Kentucky. Northern Illinois couldn't get the job done last year with QB Jordan Lynch, but the Huskies have gotten progressively better on both sides of the ball as the season has worn on and I believe will prove to be just too much for the Falcons to repeat this year. Note that NIU ranks fifth in the MAC in total scoring offense and fourth in total scoring defense. The Huskies have also allowed the least sacks in the conference and have produced the third most overall; NIU is also second in third-down conversion percentage and first in turnover differential. Northern Illinois QB Drew Hare had some pretty big shoes to fill, but he's thrown for 15 TD's vs. a single INT has posted seven rushing major scores as well. Bowling Green made it back to the championship game by posting a 5-0 record vs. MAC East opposition, which is considered much weaker than the West (note that the Falcons were 0-3 vs. MAC West competition this season). As mentioned off the top, I think the difference will be BG's inefficiences on the defensive end, it finished the year at the bottom of the MAC in pass defense, 10th in run defense and 12th in total defense. The Falcons' offense is third overall in the MAC, but there's no question that NIU can match pace with this team. Note that Northern Illinois is 4-2 ATS this year after two or more consecutive SU wins, while Bowling Green is just 1-2 ATS this season off a loss vs. a conference rival. In my opinion, this line should in fact be a lot larger, play on NORTHERN ILLINOIS.

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