The Huskies will try to cover the spread at NIU Convocation Center on Saturday when they get a visit from the Central Michigan Chippewas in college basketball action.

The Huskies are 1-13 so far on the season, and 5-6 ATS vs. the number. The Chippewas, meanwhile, are 7-8 and 8-5-1 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen Northern Illinois go 2-9 and the Chippewas go 8-6 on the totals.



View Central Michigan vs Northern Illinois Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to side with Northern Illinois in this one will find them as 8-point underdogs.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Odds Shark Power Rankings have the Huskies at No. 275 and the Chippewas at No. 186 heading into this contest. Handicapping models at Odds Shark project a 61-50 result in favor of the Chippewas.



How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Northern Illinois's No. 340 nationally ranked offense (54.4 points per game) against a Chippewas defense that sits as the No. 176 at 66.8 PPG. The Huskies have been averaging 36% from the field, less than the Chippewas have managed so far this season (41.8% on average).

Comparing how these foes stack up statistically, Central Michigan owns the country's No. 123-rated mark, allowing 68.1 points per game on the highway. Northern Illinois, on the other hand, rates No. 339 in scoring at home.

Central Michigan won its last outing, a 60-56 result against Eastern Michigan on January 11. They covered in that game as a 1-point favorite. The Chippewas grabbed a 60-56 win over the Eagles on Wednesday, behind a 15-point effort from Derek Jackson at EMU Convocation Center.

Last time out for Northern Illinois, they were a 77-68 loser as they battled Western Michigan on the road. They covered in the match as a 16-point underdog. Northern Illinois got 15 points from Tim Toler but lost anyway, 77-68, to Western Michigan on Wednesday at University Arena.


Central Michigan Chippewas Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 3-7
Before playing Ball State are 7-3
After playing Eastern Michigan are 4-6
After a win are 3-7

Northern Illinois Huskies Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 2-8
Before playing Toledo are 3-7
After playing Western Michigan are 6-4
After a loss are 1-9

A few Chippewas at Huskies trends to consider:
Central Michigan is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Northern Illinois
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Central Michigan's last 5 games when playing on the road against Northern Illinois
The total has gone UNDER in 18 of Central Michigan's last 24 games on the road
Central Michigan is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Northern Illinois's last 6 games when playing Central Michigan
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Northern Illinois's last 5 games when playing at home against Central Michigan
Northern Illinois is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Central Michigan
Northern Illinois is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Central Michigan


Next up:
Central Michigan home to Ball State, Wednesday, January 18
Northern Illinois at Toledo, Wednesday, January 18