Northern Illinois Huskies (7-5) vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (7-5)
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Fresno State Bulldogs December 23 2024 – Famous Idaho Potato Bowl features the thrilling battle as both teams, standing at 7-5 records, Northern Illinois Huskies and Fresno State Bulldogs are head to head. After having good games, Northern Illinois aims to exploit the win, whereas, Fresno State looks to end the season on good terms. Albertsons Stadium has set the stage for this Monday afternoon match, and fans can expect an exciting game as Omaha and Lincoln bring significantly different skill sets to the field. The match will commence at 2:30 PM ET on the 23rd of December, 2024 and will be shown live on ESPN.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Fresno State Bulldogs December 23 2024 Game Info
| When: | Monday, December 23, 2024, at 2:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho |
| TV: | ESPN |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Fresno State Bulldogs Betting Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
| Northern Illinois | -170 | -3.5 (-110) | Over 39.5 (-115) |
| Fresno State | +145 | +3.5 (-110) | Under 39.5 (-105) |
Northern Illinois is favored to win, but given their rather poor 1-5 record ATS in the last six matches, the concerns are there. Fresno State has proven to be a tough underdog in December games with a 4-1 record overall. A total of 39.5 seems to suggest a very tough defensive game, but the ability of Northern Illinois to score or the chances of Fresno State to defeat higher-ranked teams suggest that the over is a good bet.
Ethan Hampton QB vs. Mikey Keene QB
In Northern Illinois, staying focused has been a consistent keyword, where Ethan Hampton has served as an anchor with his 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns. Even though such numbers do not look impressive on the surface, Hampton himself does an efficient work when it matters the most. Only throwing six interceptions certainly helps the Huskies, but holding the ball for too long has also cost this season’s 13 sacks.”
“In contrast, Mikey Keene has proven to be a decisive and quick starting quarterback and a leader in business operations at Fresno State’s counterattack. Keene has 2892 yards to his name and 18 touchdowns on target with a high completion rate of 70.5%. However, the fact that he has been sacked 25 times and thrown 11 interceptions demonstrates that he does make mistakes when under pressure, and this is something that Northern Illinois will be looking to capitalize on.
Huskies’ Balanced Offense Key to Success
Northern Illinois has been gaining confidence in the past few weeks, having won three out of their last five matches, including a win against Western Michigan. Gavin Williams, on the other hand, has been exceptional with 741 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, adding strength to Hampton’s throws. Trayvon Rudolph helps the offense, but with only one touchdown so far this season, it is clear that the receiving team has to do more work for the Huskies to win.
Bulldogs Rely on Passing Prowess
The Bulldogs’ season has been a roller coaster, but they are still a team to notice after their recent 33-10 win against San Jose State as they remain dangerous. The combination of Keene and Mac Dalena, who has managed to catch eight touchdowns and has a 16.3 yards per average catch, will be a difference maker. Balance can be provided by running back Elijah Gilliam; however, the ground game seems to lack explosive plays, as evidenced by his 3.9 yards per carry.
Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Trends
Northern Illinois has done poorly against the spread, finishing with a 1-5 record across their last six. The month of December has not been December for them either, wetting the bed with a 2-8 SU over their last 10. A team statistic that is encouraging, though is their ability to score while playing Mountain West opponents, having 7 straight games of going over the total.
Fresno State Bulldogs Betting Trends
Fresno State in December still is an impressive 4-1 straight up over the last five contests. Nevertheless, their 1-5 SU record, when lined as underdogs, indicates they are finding it difficult to overcome better teams. The total has gone below in five out of last seven of their games which indicates their slower pace of play and focus on defense.
Northern Illinois Huskies vs. Fresno State Bulldogs Betting Previews
This game provides an interesting matchup as Northern Illinois’ balanced approach to offensive play goes against Fresno State’s pass-first game plan. While the Huskies seem to have a composure in the run game, Fresno State’s pass first game plan can take advantage of any defensive oversight from Northern Illinois. Given their ability to dictate pace, it would be reasonable for bettors to think Northern Illinois can cover the -3.5 spread.
Prop bets to think about include Mikey Keene surpassing the total yardage set as there will be a lot of pressure on his arm as Fresno State’s offense will primarily use him. That being said, 39.5 seems quite low so the overs would be the better option considering both teams can score at will.
Score Prediction: Northern Illinois Huskies 27, Fresno State Bulldogs 21.
