College football betting heavily favor Northern Illinois on Thursday as they host Ball State in a game that can be seen on ESPN U. The Huskies are 4-1 in the MAC while Ball State comes into this game at 1-4. NCAA football betting lines have Northern Illinois as a 17.5 point favorite on Thursday.
NCAA football odds have Ball State and Northern Illinois having met 36 times in the past with the Cardinals holding a 20-14-2 all-time edge. The Cardinals have won three of the last four meetings, including a 45-14 win at home last year. In the college football odds matchups in DeKalb, Illinois it is Ball State with a 13-6-2 all-time edge. The last game played between the two teams at Northern Illinois was a 27-21 Ball State college football odds victory two years ago.
The Huskies rolled vs. the college football odds last week as they routed Eastern Michigan 50-6. The only conference loss this season suffered by Northern Illinois was against Toledo. It would not seem that Ball State would present much of a challenge but the Cardinals are 4-1 vs. the college football betting lines in their last 5 games as a road underdog. They are also 18-5 vs. the college football odds vs. a team with a winning record. Two other things in Ball State’s favor are that they have covered the college football odds in 20 of their last 27 road games. They are also 11-4 vs. the college football betting lines in their last 15 games in November.
Northern Illinois has been solid versus the college football odds at home as they are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games as a home favorite. The Huskies are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games in November. Northern Illinois will probably be the more popular team in this college football odds matchup but covering more than two touchdowns may not be easy.
Looking at the college football betting lines total we see that seven of the last nine Ball State games in November have gone under. Seven of their last nine road games have gone under. In fact, seven of their last ten overall have gone under the college football odds. Northern Illinois is also a team that goes under the college football odds. 12 of their last 17 home games have gone under.