A key college battle sees the visiting Central Michigan Chippewas travelling to Northern Illinois Saturday to take on the Huskies.

Supporters of the Chippewas have watched them go 9-18 and 12-14 ATS on the year, while the Huskies are at 5-21 and 12-13 ATS. In totals betting, the Huskies are 7-16, while the Chippewas have a 14-7-1 mark.



View Central Michigan vs Northern Illinois Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
On the Sportsbook NCAA basketball line for this matchup, Northern Illinois sat as 2.5-point favorites over at Sportsbook. Also, check out the current total, which often goes up first at online sportsbook Sportsbook.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Huskies sit at No. 276 in the current college hoops power poll here at Odds Shark, while the Chippewas sit at No. 320 on the same chart. The computers running our scores simulations have concluded that the Chippewas will win this game 59-56.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Northern Illinois's No. 345-ranked offense, averaging 54.9 PPG, against a Chippewas defense that ranks No. 313 at 73 PPG. The Huskies field goal percentage has averaged 35.9% so far, less than the Chippewas marksmen have achieved on the year, 40.4% per game.

Defensively, Central Michigan features the nation's No. 325-rated defense on the road, allowing 77.7 points per game. Northern Illinois, meanwhile, comes in at No. 346 nationally in scoring at home.

Central Michigan was a 95-90 loser in its last match on the road against Ball State. They failed to cover the 3.5-point spread as underdogs. The Chippewas endured a 95-90 loss at the hands of the Cardinals on Wednesday, despite an 18 -point effort from Chris Fowler at Worthen Arena.

Northern Illinois lost its last outing, a 53-41 result against Eastern Michigan on February 27. They failed to cover in that game as a 1.5-point favorite. Mike Davis scored 9 points in a futile effort to lead the Huskies to a win (they lost 53-41 to Eastern Michigan at NIU Convocation Center on Wednesday).


Central Michigan Chippewas Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 5-5
Before playing Eastern Michigan are 5-5
After playing Ball State are 4-6
After a loss are 1-9

Northern Illinois Huskies Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing Toledo are 4-6
After playing Eastern Michigan are 4-6
After a loss are 2-8

A few Chippewas at Huskies trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Central Michigan's last 5 games on the road
Central Michigan is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Northern Illinois
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Central Michigan's last 6 games when playing on the road against Northern Illinois
Central Michigan is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Northern Illinois's last 6 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Northern Illinois's last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Northern Illinois's last 6 games when playing at home against Central Michigan
Northern Illinois is 4-1-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Central Michigan


Next up:
Central Michigan home to Eastern Michigan, Tuesday, March 5
Northern Illinois at Toledo, Tuesday, March 5