Toledo-Northern Illinois Prediction, Game Preview

Is Toledo (7-0) ready to take over the MAC? It needs to get by Northern Illinois (5-3) that’s won five straight in the series going back to 2009. It’s the MAC game of the year – at least until both teams have to face Western Michigan. Check out the Toledo-Northern Illinois prediction and game preview.

Toledo-Northern Illinois Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 3
Game Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH
Network: ESPN2
Follow, Contact @PeteFiutak

Why Northern Illinois Will Win

The run defense gave up three touchdowns last week in the blowout over Eastern Michigan, but that’s an aberration – the Huskies had the game in hand. Boston College was able to rumble at will, but that’s been about it against a terrific front seven that’s doing a great job of getting behind the line. If it comes down to mistakes, Toledo gets penalized a lot – nine times a game – and NIU doesn’t, getting flagged fewer than six times per game.

Why Toledo Will Win

How did Northern Illinois lose to Central Michigan? Turnovers, giving it away four times with three lost fumbles. It was an aberration, but turnover margin will be a big deal on the road. The Rockets had a hard time last week against UMass, but the offense still cranked up 51 points – they’ve only lost the TO margin one other time this year, beating Ball State. Offensively, yeah, NIU has a strong run defense to deal with, but Phillip Ely and the passing game have been stellar, throwing for 728 yards and ten touchdowns over the last two weeks. The Huskie secondary hasn’t seen much of anything through the air since playing Ohio State.

What’s Going To Happen?

It’s Northern Illinois – it knows how to hang around in tough games and it knows how to win the games it absolutely needs to. But it’s Toledo’s time. The Rockets don’t have the consistent running game expected, but Ely is hot and the offense is rolling. Expect the offenses to play at a high level, but for the Rockets to do just a little more in the fourth.