Wednesday Twin Bill – MAC Style
Published on Nov. 14, 2012, at 11:05 a.m. Eastern.
By Brian Edwards
Gamblers have a MAC doubleheader on the agenda tonight in college football. Unlike many mid-week scrub games, these are four solid teams with a 32-8 combined record.
Toledo saw its eight-game winning streak snapped in last week’s 34-27 home loss to Ball St. The Rockets will try to bounce back tonight at No. Illinois.
NIU has won nine consecutive games since letting a late lead get away in its 18-17 season-opening loss to Iowa at Soldier Field in Chicago. The Salukis have taken the cash in six straight games, improving to 8-1-1 against the spread.
All four quarterbacks in action tonight can play, but NIU junior signal caller Jordan Lynch is the best of the bunch. Lynch has put up sick numbers, throwing for 2,175 yards with a 19/3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Lynch has also rushed for 1,342 yards and 16 TDs, averaging 7.3 yards per carry. His counterpart, Rockets’ QB Terrance Owens, has a 14/5 TD-INT ratio and has also rushed for 330 yards and four scores.
Most books are listing No. Illinois as a 10 1/2-point home favorite with a total of 65. ESPN2 will have the telecast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.
On ESPNU at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, Ball St. will take on Ohio as a seven-point home ‘chalk.’ The total is 63.
Frank Solich’s squad won its first seven games but has lost two of its last three contests. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have won four in a row both straight up and ATS.
My college football record for the season is 45-27 (63%), and I’ve got a pick on each of these games in my pick pack for tonight. Best of luck to all!
