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NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES @ TOLEDO ROCKETS - 9 1/2 & OVER 51
N. Illinois (5-4) at Toledo (7-2) @ 7:30 PM *ESPN2 Network
FACTS & STATS: Site: Glass Bowl (26,248) -- Toledo, Ohio. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: NIU 3-1, Toledo 4-0. Away Record: NIU 2-3, Toledo 3-2. Neutral Record: NIU 0-0, Toledo 0-0. Conference Record: NIU 4-2, Toledo 5-1. Series Record: Toledo leads, 26-6.
GAME NOTES: Mid-American Conference foes battle for first place in the West Division on Wednesday night, as the Toledo Rockets welcome the Northern Illinois Huskies to town. Although NIU is a mediocre 5-4 overall, the club is 4-2 in MAC action. Toledo enters this contest with a 5-1 conference mark, and a win by the Huskies in this tilt would obviously force a tie. Since the advent of the MAC's two-division format in 1997, UT has won or shared the West Division title six times. The Huskies have won four of their last five outings, including a 31-28 decision over Central Michigan last time out. The Rockets have also won four of their last five, and they are a perfect 4-0 at home. Toledo has won 11 straight meetings with Northern Illinois to extend its series lead to 26-6 over the Huskies.
Northern Illinois has been explosive offensively this season, as the club is averaging 31.3 ppg and 456.1 total ypg. The Huskies have been tough to stop in large part because they can run and throw effectively. In fact, 18 of their scores have come on the ground while the other 20 have been passing touchdowns. Phil Horvath quietly had a terrific season for NIU, as the signal caller connected on 70.6 percent of his passes for 2,001 yards with 18 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Unfortunately, an arm injury will keep him shelved for the remainder of the campaign, and Dan Nicholson is now the top quarterback for the club. The top target for NIU has clearly been Sam Hurd, who has made 53 catches for 888 yards and 11 touchdowns. As for the rushing attack, Garrett Wolfe has racked up 856 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging an impressive 6.3 ypc, but he has missed the last couple of games with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for Wednesday's tilt. The offensive total could be even better if not for the fact that the Huskies have turned the ball over 20 times. Hurd was tremendous in the recent victory over Central Michigan, as he made 12 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Nicholson connected on 19-of-27 passes for 320 yards in relief of Horvath, and he appears capable of leading the offense.
The Huskies have been mediocre on defense this season, as they are allowing 24.3 ppg and 368.8 total ypg. Teams have found moderate success running the ball against NIU, which is surrendering 157.7 ypg on 4.0 ypc. As for the pass defense of the squad, it is permitting 211.1 ypg through the air, and opposing quarterbacks have racked up 16 touchdowns against only five interceptions. Considering that the defense has only forced 12 turnovers in nine outings, there is obviously room for more big plays. Also, the 14 sacks managed by the Huskies is a disappointing total. Dustin Utschig has made 78 tackles this season to lead NIU by a wide margin. Keep an eye on Quince Holman, as he has registered 9.5 TFLs, including five sacks. The Huskies permitted 32 first downs and 588 total yards to Central Michigan last time out and proved incapable of stopping the run or the pass. Fortunately, Hurd and company were able to score enough points to bail out the defense.
Toledo is averaging 35.9 ppg this season, and tremendous offensive balance has resulted in the high offensive output. The Rockets are rushing for 223.0 ypg while racking up 5.5 ypc, and 17 touchdowns have come on the ground. Leading the way for the backfield is Trinity Dawson, who has compiled 896 while averaging 5.7 ypc. Quinton Broussard has been the team's most explosive back, as he is averaging 8.1 ypc and has scored five touchdowns on just 45 carries. Bruce Gradkowski leads Toledo from the quarterback position, and he has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,705 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Steve Odom leads the receivers with 36 catches for 399 yards, and he is one of three players with four touchdown receptions. Gradkowski threw a pair of touchdown passes to Dawson in a 30-21 victory over Ohio last time out, and the talented quarterback also ran for a score. Dawson also rushed for 167 yards in the triumph.
The Toledo defensive unit deserves a great deal of credit for the team's success this year, as opponents are only scoring 19.1 ppg and posting a lackluster 302.7 total ypg. Running the ball against the Rockets has been extremely difficult, as foes are gaining a mere 3.4 ypc. As for the pass defense, Toledo is allowing only 10.6 yards per completion, and the squad has registered 12 interceptions while allowing only 10 touchdowns through the air. Anthony Jordan leads the squad with 81 total tackles, including eight TFLs, and he has picked off two passes. Toledo allowed fewer than 300 total yards in the victory over Ohio last time out, but the Rockets did surrender three touchdowns to the Bobcat offense. Obviously, the club would have liked a better effort, but the result was a victory nonetheless.
With Horvath out and Wolfe questionable, it is hard to imagine NIU winning this contest on the road. Toledo has the better of the two defenses and will earn a spot in the MAC title game.
Predicted Outcome: Toledo 38, Northern Illinois 20
N. Illinois (5-4) at Toledo (7-2) @ 7:30 PM *ESPN2 Network
FACTS & STATS: Site: Glass Bowl (26,248) -- Toledo, Ohio. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: NIU 3-1, Toledo 4-0. Away Record: NIU 2-3, Toledo 3-2. Neutral Record: NIU 0-0, Toledo 0-0. Conference Record: NIU 4-2, Toledo 5-1. Series Record: Toledo leads, 26-6.
GAME NOTES: Mid-American Conference foes battle for first place in the West Division on Wednesday night, as the Toledo Rockets welcome the Northern Illinois Huskies to town. Although NIU is a mediocre 5-4 overall, the club is 4-2 in MAC action. Toledo enters this contest with a 5-1 conference mark, and a win by the Huskies in this tilt would obviously force a tie. Since the advent of the MAC's two-division format in 1997, UT has won or shared the West Division title six times. The Huskies have won four of their last five outings, including a 31-28 decision over Central Michigan last time out. The Rockets have also won four of their last five, and they are a perfect 4-0 at home. Toledo has won 11 straight meetings with Northern Illinois to extend its series lead to 26-6 over the Huskies.
Northern Illinois has been explosive offensively this season, as the club is averaging 31.3 ppg and 456.1 total ypg. The Huskies have been tough to stop in large part because they can run and throw effectively. In fact, 18 of their scores have come on the ground while the other 20 have been passing touchdowns. Phil Horvath quietly had a terrific season for NIU, as the signal caller connected on 70.6 percent of his passes for 2,001 yards with 18 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Unfortunately, an arm injury will keep him shelved for the remainder of the campaign, and Dan Nicholson is now the top quarterback for the club. The top target for NIU has clearly been Sam Hurd, who has made 53 catches for 888 yards and 11 touchdowns. As for the rushing attack, Garrett Wolfe has racked up 856 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging an impressive 6.3 ypc, but he has missed the last couple of games with a knee injury and is listed as questionable for Wednesday's tilt. The offensive total could be even better if not for the fact that the Huskies have turned the ball over 20 times. Hurd was tremendous in the recent victory over Central Michigan, as he made 12 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Nicholson connected on 19-of-27 passes for 320 yards in relief of Horvath, and he appears capable of leading the offense.
The Huskies have been mediocre on defense this season, as they are allowing 24.3 ppg and 368.8 total ypg. Teams have found moderate success running the ball against NIU, which is surrendering 157.7 ypg on 4.0 ypc. As for the pass defense of the squad, it is permitting 211.1 ypg through the air, and opposing quarterbacks have racked up 16 touchdowns against only five interceptions. Considering that the defense has only forced 12 turnovers in nine outings, there is obviously room for more big plays. Also, the 14 sacks managed by the Huskies is a disappointing total. Dustin Utschig has made 78 tackles this season to lead NIU by a wide margin. Keep an eye on Quince Holman, as he has registered 9.5 TFLs, including five sacks. The Huskies permitted 32 first downs and 588 total yards to Central Michigan last time out and proved incapable of stopping the run or the pass. Fortunately, Hurd and company were able to score enough points to bail out the defense.
Toledo is averaging 35.9 ppg this season, and tremendous offensive balance has resulted in the high offensive output. The Rockets are rushing for 223.0 ypg while racking up 5.5 ypc, and 17 touchdowns have come on the ground. Leading the way for the backfield is Trinity Dawson, who has compiled 896 while averaging 5.7 ypc. Quinton Broussard has been the team's most explosive back, as he is averaging 8.1 ypc and has scored five touchdowns on just 45 carries. Bruce Gradkowski leads Toledo from the quarterback position, and he has completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 1,705 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Steve Odom leads the receivers with 36 catches for 399 yards, and he is one of three players with four touchdown receptions. Gradkowski threw a pair of touchdown passes to Dawson in a 30-21 victory over Ohio last time out, and the talented quarterback also ran for a score. Dawson also rushed for 167 yards in the triumph.
The Toledo defensive unit deserves a great deal of credit for the team's success this year, as opponents are only scoring 19.1 ppg and posting a lackluster 302.7 total ypg. Running the ball against the Rockets has been extremely difficult, as foes are gaining a mere 3.4 ypc. As for the pass defense, Toledo is allowing only 10.6 yards per completion, and the squad has registered 12 interceptions while allowing only 10 touchdowns through the air. Anthony Jordan leads the squad with 81 total tackles, including eight TFLs, and he has picked off two passes. Toledo allowed fewer than 300 total yards in the victory over Ohio last time out, but the Rockets did surrender three touchdowns to the Bobcat offense. Obviously, the club would have liked a better effort, but the result was a victory nonetheless.
With Horvath out and Wolfe questionable, it is hard to imagine NIU winning this contest on the road. Toledo has the better of the two defenses and will earn a spot in the MAC title game.
Predicted Outcome: Toledo 38, Northern Illinois 20