Northern Illinois Secure Bowl Eligibility, Miami Ohio Aim for Sixth Straight Win
Northern Illinois Huskies Secure Bowl Eligibility, Miami Ohio Redhawks Look to Extend Winning Streak
As the 2024 MAC football season heats up, the Northern Illinois Huskies (6-4, 5-4-1 ATS, 5-4-1 O/U) will face the red-hot Miami Ohio Redhawks (6-4, 4-6 ATS, 4-5-1 O/U) in a pivotal Tuesday evening showdown. Northern Illinois is coming off a crucial win that secured bowl eligibility, while Miami Ohio enters the game riding a five-game win streak, with momentum on their side. These two teams last met in 2022, with Miami Ohio emerging victorious, but much has changed since then, making this upcoming clash a must-watch for college football fans.
Northern Illinois Huskies: Bowl Eligible After Key Win
Northern Illinois has fought its way back into bowl contention, securing a 42-28 road win over Western Michigan and following it up with a dominant 29-16 home victory over Akron last week. That win officially sealed their bowl eligibility and improved their record to 6-4 on the season. With a 3-3 record in MAC play, the Huskies now turn their focus to finishing strong and solidifying their postseason positioning.
Offensively, the Huskies are a run-first team. Junior quarterback Ethan Hampton has not been a major contributor in the passing game, with fewer than 200 passing yards in all but one game this season. On the year, Hampton has totaled 1,361 passing yards with a 12:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio. However, the ground game has been the standout, with senior running back Antario Brown contributing 567 rushing yards and a steady 50 yards per game. Backup Gavin Williams has also been effective, reaching 100 rushing yards in three games and totaling 631 yards this season. The Huskies’ offense averages 402 yards per game, but their scoring has been inconsistent, posting 30 or more points in just two games.
On defense, Northern Illinois has been solid, allowing just 18.5 points per game (15th in the nation). The defense has been particularly strong against the pass, ranking 10th in the country, while the rush defense is also respectable at 28th overall. In their most recent outing, they limited Akron to just 256 total yards, showcasing the defense’s ability to shut down even high-powered offenses. If the Huskies can maintain this defensive consistency, they’ll give themselves a chance to compete against a potent Miami Ohio offense.
Miami Ohio Redhawks: Riding High on Five-Game Winning Streak
The Miami Ohio Redhawks are on an impressive five-game win streak, thanks to a series of dominant performances in MAC play. After a tough non-conference schedule that left them at 1-4, the Redhawks have found their groove, winning six of their last seven games. Most recently, they handed Kent State a 34-7 loss, though they did fail to cover the massive 30-point spread. Despite this, Miami Ohio has been an extremely strong force in MAC play, boasting a 5-1 record in conference matchups.
Senior quarterback Brett Gabbert has been a steadying force under center for the Redhawks. Gabbert has surpassed 200 passing yards in four of his last six games, and last week he threw for 202 yards, bringing his season total to 2,148 yards with an 18:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In the backfield, senior running back Keyon Mozee has been dominant, running for at least 100 yards in five straight games, including a 846-yard season total. This balanced offensive attack has allowed Miami Ohio to score 30 or more points in four of their last five games, with the offense averaging 365 yards per game.
Defensively, the Redhawks have been just as effective, allowing only 20 points or fewer in each of their last five games. They kept Kent State to just 183 total yards in their most recent win, a testament to the effectiveness of their defense. The pass defense has been a standout, ranking 22nd in the nation, while the rush defense ranks 55th. This ability to limit both the pass and run has made Miami Ohio one of the toughest defensive teams in the conference.
Conclusion
The Northern Illinois Huskies and Miami Ohio Redhawks have been two of the more intriguing teams in the MAC this season. Northern Illinois has fought hard to secure bowl eligibility but faces a tough challenge in the form of Miami Ohio’s high-powered offense and rock-solid defense. The Redhawks, on the other hand, are firing on all cylinders and will look to continue their impressive win streak. This game promises to be an exciting matchup, with bowl eligibility and momentum on the line for both teams.
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