Northern Illinois Huskies versus Fresno State Bulldogs Humanitarian Bowl Odds, Preview, and Predictions: Interim head football coach Tom Matukewicz will lead the Northern Illinois Huskies to Bronco Stadium in Boise Idaho to take on the Fresno State Bulldogs in the Humanitarian Bowl on Saturday at 5:30 PM ET on ESPN. The Huskies enter the game at 10-3 1st in the MAC West while the Bulldogs come in at 8-4 4th in the WAC. NIU’s head coach Jerry Kill led the Huskies to their best record ever but lost the MAC Championship game then was hired away by Minnesota and linebacker coach Tom Matukewicz will take the reins for the bowl game. “Our hearts were broken in Detroit, then we lost our coach, so we have a choice to make,” Matukewicz told the school’s official website. “We can all come together as a team or we can start to fracture. We have three goals in Boise – win, have fun and celebrate one of the best seasons in school history.” Fresno has mixed feelings about playing on the blue “smurf turf” at Bronco Stadium as they were pounded there 51-0 by Boise State earlier this year but it is also the site of their last bowl victory in the 2007 Humanitarian Bowl. Vegas odds makers have the Northern Illinois Huskies a -1 1/2 point favorite at Bronco Stadium against the Fresno State Bulldogs.
The Huskies were defeated 26-21 by Miami of Ohio at Ford Field in the MAC Championship game that left them at 9-2-1 ATS for the season. Quarterback Chandler Harnish completed 15 of 28 passes for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns as well as rushing 8 times for 3 yards. Martel Moore caught for balls for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns. Northern Illinois is 9-1-1 ATS in its last 11 games.
The Bulldogs are coming off a victory 25-23 at home against Illinois to move to just 5-6 ATS for the season. Quarterback Ryan Colburn completed 18 of 26 passes for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns as well as rushing 4 times for 3 yards. “I’m very proud of this team,” head football coach Pat Hill said. “They battled through a lot and this senior class had built a strong bridge to the future. Not many senior classes can say they’ve been to four straight bowl games.” Odds makers at SBG Global have the over/under for the total score at 59 points combined of the Northern Illinois Huskies and Fresno State Bulldogs.
I predict a Fresno State victory!
Note: Rich Fritz is a Blog Writer on NSAwins.com and not a pro handicapper. For expert NFL Football Predictions against the Vegas spreads please visit the NSAwins.com homepage for top predictions today from the National Sports Advisors.