Northern Illinois Huskies at Western Michigan Broncos

Two Mid-American Conference teams who would like to improve on their initial efforts will lock horns on Saturday, as the Northern Illinois (0-1 SU, 1-0 ATS) in NCAA action that kicks off at 7 PM ET at Waldo Stadium (artificial turf) in Kalamazoo. MI.

Saturday, September 6

BetUS NCAA Betting Odds: WESTERN MICHIGAN -6

Here are some of the NCAA football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* NIU has lost eight of its last nine games SU

* NIU has covered four of its last five games

* NIU has played seven of its last nine games UNDER the total

* NIU has covered two of its last six road games

* NIU has lost its last six road games SU

* NIU has played nine of its last 11 road games UNDER the total

* WMU is 0-5-1 ATS in its last six games

* WMU has lost four of its last six games SU

* WMU is 1-9-2 ATS in its last 12 games

* WMU has won nine of its last 13 home games SU

Also...

* NIU has won five of the last seven meetings SU

* NIU has covered eight of the last 11 meetings

* The last three meetings have gone UNDER the total

Northern Illinois made a game of it against Minnesota, but came out on the short end of a 31-27 decision as the Huskies gave up a touchdown with 22 seconds left, though on the bright side, at least for NIU's backers, they did cover as the 8.5-point underdog. Western Michigan went to Nebraska and fought gamely, but were beaten by the Huskers in Bo Pelini's debut by a score of 47-24, failing to cover the 14.5-point impost and going over the posted total of 60.

Tim Hiller threw for 341 yards against the Huskers, completing 30 of 49 passes. Hiller, who was sensational as a freshman (20 TD's, three INT's) before injuring his knee against NIU and missing more than a year of action, may be ready to be productive again. WMU got more good news when Aaron Winchester, who ran for over 2000 in high school in Florida last year, broke a 57-yard kickoff return and will find himself contributing in the backfield alongside Brandon West, which may immediately bring the Broncos a two-fisted running game, which was missing against Nebraska.

Northern Illinois seems to have developed a potentially effective pass combo between newcomers, as redshirt freshman Chandler Harnish, who threw for 326 yards, connected with fellow frosh Nathan Palmer for TD's of 91 and 53 yards. But running back Justin Anderson (34 yards rushing) was disappointing in the Minnesota game, and may still be feeling the effects of the knee injury he suffered last year.

In Harnish's emergence is real, that is encouraging. And Western Michigan has covered only one of its last 12 games. But NIU, with six straight road losses, has often been uncompetitive in those efforts. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that Minnesota was dead last in yards allowed in all of NCAA football last season. And remember that Western Michigan brought back nine seniors on defense, which may not mean anything against mid-level Big 12 opponents, but counts for something in the Mid-American Conference. We're interested in seeing what Winchester can do against an NIU defense that has been found wanting. And Hiller has the big experience edge in this matchup of QB's.

We'll take Western Michigan, the six-point favorite in the BetUS NCAA football betting odds.

JAY'S PLAY: WESTERN MICHIGAN -6 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com gives it more than the old college try as a contributor to the BetUS Locker Room)