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Paul Leiner
100* Over 66 UCLA/Oregon
50* No Illinois -3
100* Over 66 UCLA/Oregon
50* No Illinois -3
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David Banks
Record this week 3 -1
Ohio Bobcats vs. Northern Illinois Huskies
The best of the East meets the best of the West Friday night when the Ohio Bobcats (9-3, 5-7 ATS) and Northern Illinois Huskies (9-3, 5-7 ATS) square off in the 2011 MAC Championship Game; kick-off from Ford Field is scheduled to go live on ESPN2 & ESPN3.com at 7:00 ET.
The Bobcats look destined to represent the East Division in the MAC’s big game a year ago, but head coach Frank Solich’s kids came up short at Kent State in their regular season finale. With history finding a way to repeat itself, Ohio once again found itself with another win and in situation in their regular season finale at home against the Miami of Ohio Redhawks last Tuesday night. Though their division rivals played them to a 7-7 tie heading into the 4th quarter, Ohio managed to pull out the 21-14 home win and non-cover to punch their ticket to the MAC Championship Game. The Bobcats are very balanced team on both sides of the ball. The offense averages 461.5 YPG (#18) and 31.9 PPG (#35) with the ground attack chewing up 211.7 YPG (#20). QB Tyler Tettleton has thrown for 2842 yards at 8.03 yards per attempt and sports a TD/INT ratio of 26/7. Defensively, the Bobcats excel at defending the run (#28 at 124 YPG) and only allowed an average of 22 PPG (#33).
Even though former coach Jerry Kill headed north to run the Minnesota Golden Gophers program at the end of last season, current head coach Dave Doeren has Northern Illinois right back in the MAC Championship Game. The Huskies enter with unfinished business after shockingly falling to the Miami of Ohio Red Hawks 26-21 as lofty 17.5-point favorites and having to settle for an invite to the Humanitarian Bowl instead of the bowl reserved for the MAC’s top overall team. It was far from easy for the Huskies to get back to this position, as they were challenged mightily by both Ball State and Eastern Michigan in their final two regular season games of the season; both non-covering wins. Northern won nine of its 12 games played this season due to the offenses ability to chew up tons of yardage (#9 at 488.1 YPG) and bombard the scoreboard with points (#11 at 39.6 PPG). QB Chandler Harnish was simply phenomenal in his senior campaign throwing for 2692 yards to go along with 23 touchdown passes and only four interceptions. The defense was a sieve to say the least (#91 at 421.9 YPG & #94 at 32 PPG).
These teams last met back in 2009 at Peden Stadium where Ohio scored the 38-31 home win and cover as 1.5-point favorites; the ‘over’ has cashed in each of these teams last three meetings dating back to 2003. Ohio went 4-2 SU & 3-3 ATS as visitors in 2011 and stands a lucrative 8-3 ATS the last 11 times it went off the board an underdog. Northern Illinois split its six road games (2-4 ATS), but enters this spot winners in each of its last three which included that crucial 63-60 shootout win at Toledo; the Huskies have only covered one of their last eight games held at a neutral site.
PICK: Ohio Bobcats vs. Northern Illinois Huskies OVERComment
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GamingToday’s Consensus Picks December 02, 2011 7:49 AM by GT Staff
NCAA Football
NCAA Football
Mac Championship
Northern Illinois -3½ vs Ohio U Total 70
at Ford Field-Detroit, Mi
Both teams finished the season with 9-3 records, No. Ill has won seven straight games. The Bobcats from Ohio U have won five straight games and have beat the Huskies three straight times and are a perfect 5-0 ATS in weekday games as the underdog.
OHIO +3½ Play of the Day
Oregon -31½ And Over 66
NCAA Basketball
Syracuse -6½
Washington -4
Loyola Marymount -9
Manhattan +4½
Iona -13**
NHL Hockey
Detroit Red Wings -120
Columbus Blue Jackets +135
Anaheim Ducks +105Comment
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ANTHONY REDD
50 Dime selection on Northern Illinois as the favorite over Ohio. Northern Illinois is currently laying 3 points at the majority of sportsbooks here in Vegas and where I check offshore as I release this selection at 8 AM Pacific.
25 Dime selection on the Over in tonight's Ohio-Northern Illinois game. The total is currently sitting at between 71 to 71 1/2 in this contest.Comment
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