Tommy Brunson

The Eagles of Eastern Michigan tote their 2-5 mark into Huskie Stadium here on Thursday as they face 5-2 Northern Illinois.

Based on the fact none of Eastern's last 12 losses have come by more than 7 points means they should once again be right there against a Northern team that has beaten them straight up in 15 of the last 16 series meetings, including wins in each of the last 9 (7-2 against the spread).

The Eagles have gone 5-2 against the spread this season, and they are 15-4 now against the spread in their last 19 lined games. They have also covered 9 of their last 10 games as the road dog, largely because their defense has been able to limit the opposition to just 20-points per game.

Last year's meeting in Ypsilanti saw NIU squeak by in overtime, 31-24, which tells me that Eastern Michigan knows full well they can compete with this Huskies team once again this season on the road.

Mid-week MAC games usually result in some wild action, and tonight I think the wise move is taking the points with this "live" dog.

Eastern Michigan takes it down to the wire.

2* EASTERN MICHIGAN