Tuesday night MACtion is back and we’ve got a rivalry match to look forward to as the 4-5 Northern Illinois Huskies welcome the 2-7 Ball State Cardinals to DeKalb.
Who emerges victorious in the battle for the Bronze Stalk Trophy? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a Northern Illinois vs. Ball State prediction.
Northern Illinois vs. Ball State Betting and DFS Preview
All odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. Want to take advantage of the Northern Illinois vs. Ball State odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page to place bets in your state.
- Spread
Northern Illinois -10 - Moneyline
Northern Illinois -380, Ball State +300 - Over/Under
43 points - Game time
7 p.m. ET - Location
Huskie Stadium, DeKalb, IL - Predicted Weather at Kick
44 degrees, 12 mph winds, cloudy - How to Watch
CBS Sports Network, FuboTV
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Find our prediction for the Western Michigan vs. Central Michigan Tuesday night game here.
Looking to cash in on the Cardinals? Will hammering the Huskies bolster your betting balance? If you’re going to take advantage of the Northern Illinois vs. Ball State odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Although Ball State got the better of their in-state rival in the battle for the Bronze Stalk Trophy last season, the Huskies hold a narrow 25-23-2 head-to-head advantage. Although both teams come into this year below .500, Northern Illinois has shown a little more this season and still has bowl eligibly to play for on Tuesday night.
The Huskies are favored, and our Northern Illinois vs. Ball State prediction explains why we think they come away with the win. However, there’s still some money to be made on the Cardinals. Thomas Hammock’s Huskies are 1-4 against the spread as the favorite, while Mike Neu’s team has covered their last three games as an underdog — including once as a double-digit ‘dog.
We’re leaning toward the Huskies for the win, the Cardinals to cover, and wrapping up the Northern Illinois vs. Ball State odds; there’s the possibility that this game clears the 43-point total line. Over half of Northern Illinois’ games have covered the over this year, and this clash has a history of high-scoring affairs.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
Northern Illinois Depth Chart | Ball State Depth Chart
- QB Rocky Lombardi, Northern Illinois ($9,500)
- QB Kiael Kelly, Ball State ($9,200)
- RB Antario Brown, Northern Illinois ($10,000)
- RB Marquez Cooper, Ball State ($8,200)
- RB Gavin Williams, Northern Illinois ($5,700)
- RB Rico Barfield, Ball State ($5,000)
- RB Vaughn Pemberton, Ball State ($4,800)
- RB Charlie Spegal, Ball State ($4,400)
- WR Trayvon Rudolph, Northern Illinois ($8,300)
- WR Qian Magwood, Ball State ($6,500)
- WR Grayson Barnes, Northern Illinois ($6,300)
- WR Ahmad Edwards, Ball State ($6,000)
- WR Kacper Rutkiewicz, Northern Illinois ($5,700)
- WR Malcolm Gillie, Ball State ($5,500)
- TE Tanner Koziol, Ball State ($6,000)
- TE Chris Carter, Northern Illinois ($5,100)
There are three college football games on Tuesday to compile your DFS team from in Week 11. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, and a “superflex” that can be any of the above. Or you can also select a tight end for the Superflex spot.
You could actually make a good argument for both starting quarterbacks in this game. Rocky Lombardi is the fantasy QB3 in the MAC West and he has a good matchup against a Ball State defense that has the fewest interceptions while allowing the highest completion percentage to opposition quarterbacks in the MAC so far this season.
Meanwhile, Kial Kelly is a dual-threat who can test defenses on the ground, and we saw how that worked out for the Huskies’ defense against Jase Bauer and Central Michigan a week ago. That porous Northern Illinois rush defense should ensure that Ball State running back Marquez Cooper is in consideration for your Northern Illinois vs. Ball State picks.
Northern Illinois has a ton of offensive playmakers who could earn a spot in your DFS lineup, but make sure you save some budget and a WR spot for Trayvon Rudolph. The electric offensive weapon was back to his very best last time out, and has a favorable matchup against this Ball State defense. Rudolph can burn you in all phases, making him a “must-play” piece here.
Prediction for Northern Illinois vs. Ball State
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the Northern Illinois vs. Ball State odds and some DFS picks. Now, it’s time to close this thing out with our prediction.
Will Ball State bring the Bronze Stalk Trophy back to Muncie, retaining it for a second successive season? Or can the Huskies hold on to hopes of bowl eligibility with their fifth win of the season?
As discussed above, there are reasons to believe that Ball State can be a factor in DeKalb on Tuesday night. Quarterback Kelly is a dangerous man with the ball in his hands, and if he gets to the edge, he has the speed to break off huge chunk plays — as he did against Bowling Green.
Jase Bauer and Marion Lukes exploited the Huskies’ defensive fragilities, and Kelly and Cooper have the potential to put together that same type of performance on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have some standout defensive pieces of their own that should help them keep things close.
Outside linebacker Sidney Houston Jr. is one of the leading defensive playmakers in the MAC, who can get into the backfield with dangerous intent. The Huskies have some ballers on the offensive line, however, including right guard John Champe, which should make for a mouth-watering matchup at the line of scrimmage.
Although Ball State has the chance to get a result on Tuesday night, and is arguably a better team than their 2-7 record suggests, Northern Illinois has the pieces to exploit the Cardinals’ own defensive weaknesses. Look for running back Antario Brown to pace the offense, with WR Rudolph providing the explosive plays as the Huskies win back the Bronze Stalk Trophy.
Prediction: Northern Illinois 28, Ball State 21
