NCAAF MAC Championship Game: Kent State vs Northern Illinois Betting Analysis & Prediction

The MAC Championship Game will be played at Ford Field in Detroit, pitting 7-5 Kent State, the winners of the East division, versus West champion Northern Illinois, who finished the season with an 8-4 record. Both squads completed their conference slates at 6-2 to advance to the league title contest, with neither team bringing much momentum into the clash.

In their regular-season meeting, Kent State and Northern Illinois put on an offensive show, with the Golden Flashes finally prevailing 52-47 in a game where the teams combined for 1345 total yards, with Kent State rolling up 359 yards on the ground and the Huskies gaining 532 yards through the air. The Golden Flashes took a 21-17 lead late in the first half, one that they eventually stretched to 18 points and never relinquished. That being said, it’s time we take a look at the upcoming MAC Championship title game so you can make your bets against the College Football Betting Odds.

College Football Betting Preview for Kent State Golden Flashes at Northern Illinois

Kent State Golden Flashes Betting Preview

After a tough beginning to the season, Kent State lost to three Power Five teams by a combined mark of 108-33, and they entered their conference slate at 1-3 overall, with a 60-10 win over FCS VMI sprinkled in as window dressing. Despite the lopsided victory, Kent State was outscored by their opponents on the season. Its pair of MAC losses came 64-31 to Western Michigan and 54-30 to Central Michigan, where three turnovers doomed them against the Chippewas.

On the season, it was the offense for Kent State that bailed them out in close games, especially in last week’s 48-47 overtime victory over Miami (Ohio), where they gave up an 11 point fourth-quarter lead and ran for over 300 yards to advance to the title game. They ran for more yards than they passed for, putting up 490 total yards and 247 yards rushing yards per game.

Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Preview

The Huskies began the season with a mild 22-21 upset of Georgia Tech, but since the Yellow Jackets finished the 2021 campaign at 3-9, the game isn’t much of an accomplishment for Northern Illinois. All of their six conference wins have been decided by a single possession, and they’re coming off a disastrous 42-21 loss to Western Michigan, where they allowed the Broncos to put up 636 total yards. At the same time, the Huskies were held to less than 300 yards, including just 23 yards on four pass completions in 10 attempts.

Even though Northern Illinois could win their division, they were outscored and outgained by their opponents for the season, both inside and outside the conference. If they are looking to reverse the result of their initial meeting with Kent State, they’ll need to find a way to slow down a very productive offense in an indoor setting where weather and field conditions will not be a factor.

Betting Odds and Lines at MyBookie

• Spread: Kent State -3 (-110 for both sides of the wager)
• Moneyline: Kent State -160, Northern Illinois +135
• Total: 74.5 (-110 o/u)

Betting Pick and Prediction

There isn’t much indication that the second meeting between these two teams will turn out much differently than the first time, especially given the lackluster performance last week by Northern Illinois against Western Michigan. This will be an offensive shootout unless one of the teams commits a flurry of turnovers, so give the points and take Kent State to prevail as they put the total points way in the rearview mirror.

Pick: Kent State 45 Northern Illinois 37

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