Commercial content 21+.
Get the free Action Network app for expert picks, live odds, bet tracking and more.
This hasn’t been the college football season many expected for either Central Michigan or Northern Illinois, both of which enter Wednesday’s MAC showdown with an identical 2-6 record. But that doesn’t tell the full story for these two — and especially not the host Huskies.
Both sides have been plagued with injuries and inconsistency at the quarterback position, which could be the deciding factor in this one. Central Michigan still hasn’t named a full-time starter between sophomore Daniel Richardson and freshman Jase Bauer, with the latter spelling the former early in last week’s blowout loss to Bowling Green, while injuries have decimated the Chippewas’ running backs room.
- Check out more of the Best Sportsbook Promo Codes
Conversely, Northern Illinois’ starting quarterback Rocky Lombardi has been in and out of the lineup this season, but he’s played well when healthy. The former Michigan State transfer has posted a 158.2 passer rating with six total touchdowns to just one interception, and he led the Huskies to a 29-point win over Eastern Michigan before missing last week’s loss to Ohio.
Betting on College Football?
- Check out the best College Football betting sites
- Read our expert’s guide on how to bet on College Football
- Get the latest College Football National Championship winner odds
If Lombardi suits up on Wednesday, Northern Illinois feels like the easy play as an underachieving home favorite. And even if he doesn’t, this rock-solid Huskies run game has enough pop to gash an inconsistent Chippewa defense and put Central Michigan’s offense into a tough spot with its carousel of unproven passers.
The play: Northern Illinois -5.5 (Caesars Sportsbook)
