Northern Illinois vs Mississippi State Picks and Predictions for Saturday, September 20, 2025
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Northern Illinois vs Mississippi State Preview
Northern Illinois enters Starkville at 1-1 after splitting its first two games, while Mississippi State has jumped out to a 3-0 start. The Huskies opened the season with a close win over Holy Cross before falling at Maryland, scoring just nine points in that loss. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, handled Alcorn State 63-0 last week after edging Arizona State and beating Southern Miss on the road. Kickoff is set for 2:15 PM ET at Davis Wade Stadium, with temperatures expected to be in the 90s and coverage on SEC Network. Don’t miss the upset alerts — today’s best college football picks are live.
Northern Illinois Huskies Preview
Northern Illinois has leaned on quarterback Josh Holst, who has thrown for 192 yards on 26-of-40 passing, though he has yet to throw a touchdown and has one interception. Running back Chavon Wright has been the most reliable weapon with 167 yards and a touchdown on 38 carries. Wide receiver DeAree Rogers has 89 receiving yards on 10 catches, giving Holst a short-range outlet, but the Huskies’ offense has struggled to consistently finish drives. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Quinn Urwiler leads the team with 20 tackles, while Roy Williams has the lone sack so far. Northern Illinois has to find ways to sustain possessions, because a quick series of punts against Mississippi State could snowball into an early hole.
Mississippi State Bulldogs Preview
Mississippi State has looked more balanced and efficient through three weeks. Quarterback Blake Shapen has been sharp with 551 passing yards, four touchdowns, and just one interception while completing 68% of his throws. Wideout Brenen Thompson has been the top target with 225 yards and two touchdowns on 13 catches, showing the Bulldogs’ ability to stretch the field. In the run game, Davon Booth has chipped in 113 yards and a score on 25 carries, providing enough balance to keep defenses honest. On defense, lineman Will Whitson has already recorded two sacks, and safety Isaac Smith leads with 15 tackles, a sign that the Bulldogs are winning at the line of scrimmage and forcing opponents into mistakes.
Northern Illinois vs Mississippi State Pick
Given the difference in production, Mississippi State has every advantage. The Huskies haven’t shown the firepower to keep pace against a team that just put up 63 points, while the Bulldogs’ defense has forced quick stops. Expect Northern Illinois to lean on Wright to slow the tempo, but that won’t be enough against a team that can score through the air and control the trenches.
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Prediction: Mississippi State 38, Northern Illinois 10
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