Northern Illinois at Kent State - 2021 Matchup Preview

Northern Illinois Huskies at Kent State Golden Flashes

Wednesday, November 3rd 2021 (7:00 PM EDT)
Kent State -3.5 (72.0)
Kent State 52 - Northern Illinois: 47 (Mid-American)

Huskies (9 - 5) (9 - 4 - 1)
Coach Thomas Hammock (6 - 15)
Avg Score : 17 - 24 (16 - 28 on Road)
'21 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

NIU coming off BYE
KENT coming off BYE
Our Line: -3 (SP+ KENT -1)
Projected Score: NIU: 22 - KENT: 25 (47)
KENT Win prob: 62% | Cover: 49%
NIU Travel: 390 miles, 1 hrs behind

Golden Flashes (7 - 7) (6 - 8 - 0)
Coach Sean Lewis (13 - 19)
Avg Score : 21 - 34 (26 - 21 @ Home)
'21 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
NIU Players
KENT Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Northern Illinois's 2021 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/4	Northern Illinois at Georgia Tech	+19.0	57.0	W 22 - 21	U	Y
Sat 9/11	Northern Illinois vs Wyoming	+7.0	44.0	L 43 - 50	O	Y
Sat 9/18	Northern Illinois at Michigan	+27.5	54.5	L 10 - 63	O	N
Sat 9/25	Northern Illinois vs Maine	-21.5	62.0	W 41 - 14	U	Y
Sat 10/2	Northern Illinois vs Eastern Michigan	+0.0	62.5	W 27 - 20	U	Y
Sat 10/9	Northern Illinois at Toledo	+13.0	51.5	W 22 - 20	U	Y
Sat 10/16	Northern Illinois vs Bowling Green	-9.0	44.5	W 34 - 26	O	N
Sat 10/23	Northern Illinois at Central Michigan	+6.0	56.0	W 39 - 38	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/3	Northern Illinois at Kent State	+3.5	72.0	L 47 - 52	O	N
Wed 11/10	Northern Illinois vs Ball State	+3.0	59.5	W 30 - 29	U	Y
Wed 11/17	Northern Illinois at Buffalo	-2.0	59.5	W 33 - 27	O	Y
Tue 11/23	Northern Illinois vs Western Michigan	+6.5	60.0	L 21 - 42	O	N
Sat 12/4	Northern Illinois vs Kent State	+3.5	75.5	W 41 - 23	U	Y
Fri 12/17	Northern Illinois vs Coastal Carolina	+11.0	63.0	L 41 - 47	O	Y

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Northern Illinois's Schedule

Kent State's 2021 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/4	Kent State at Texas A&M	+29.5	67.0	L 10 - 41	U	N
Sat 9/11	Kent State vs VMI	-19.0	73.0	W 60 - 10	U	Y
Sat 9/18	Kent State at Iowa	+22.0	55.5	L 7 - 30	U	N
Sat 9/25	Kent State at Maryland	+13.0	71.5	L 16 - 37	U	N
Sat 10/2	Kent State vs Bowling Green	-16.5	56.0	W 27 - 20	U	N
Sat 10/9	Kent State vs Buffalo	-7.0	66.0	W 48 - 38	O	Y
Sat 10/16	Kent State at Western Michigan	+7.0	68.5	L 31 - 64	O	N
Sat 10/23	Kent State at Ohio	-5.0	68.5	W 34 - 27	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/3	Kent State vs Northern Illinois	-3.5	72.0	W 52 - 47	O	Y
Wed 11/10	Kent State at Central Michigan	+2.5	76.5	L 30 - 54	O	N
Sat 11/20	Kent State at Akron	-13.5	72.5	W 38 - 0	U	Y
Sat 11/27	Kent State vs Miami (OH)	+1.0	68.0	W 48 - 47	O	Y
Sat 12/4	Kent State vs Northern Illinois	-3.5	75.5	L 23 - 41	U	N
Tue 12/21	Kent State vs Wyoming	+3.0	61.0	L 38 - 52	O	N

Important Stats (2020)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
NIU	.08	41%	17.1	40%	2.69	123	42%	241	3.69	.24	47%	24.3	45%	50%	3.5	69	1.7	1.2
KENT	.47	56%	21.3	53%	3.51	283	61%	324	5.14	.26	44%	33.6	43%	46%	4.72	81.3	1	1.3

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
NIU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
KENT		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2020

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
NIU Offense	6	17.1	16.3	40.7%	3.69	1.7	22	364	123	241	3.3	46%	54%	40%	42%	19%	.08
KENT Defense	4	33.6	20.6	44.5%	4.72	1.3	-	-	-	-	-	61%	39%	43%	46%	18%	.26

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
NIU Defense	6	24.3	27.8	46.9%	3.5	1.2	-	-	-	-	-	54%	45%	45%	50%	17%	.24
KENT Offense	4	21.3	26.2	55.9%	5.14	1	32	607	283	324	5.7	59%	41%	53%	61%	12%	.47

Additional Stats 2020

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Northern Illinois	6	33:38	21.5	28%	63%	6.8	69	1.7	1.2	4.3	1.8	0	28
Kent State	4	29:08	32.3	56%	88%	9.3	81.3	1	1.3	6.3	2.8	0	30.1

Run Game Stats (2021)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
NIU Offense	6	46%	40%	36.8	123	3.3	7	-.05	2.69	67%	13%	0.83
KENT Defense	4	61%	43%	-	-	-	-	.34	3.22	89%	11%	1.43

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
NIU Defense	6	54%	45%	-	-	-	-	.1	2.74	76%	10%	0.96
KENT Offense	4	59%	53%	49.8	283	5.7	13	.31	3.51	89%	9%	0.97

Pass Game Stats (2021)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
NIU Offense	6	54%	42%	21.2	36.8	240.5	6.5	11.4	11	2	.19	1.5	32%	29%	.21	6%	1.7
KENT Defense	4	39%	46%	-	-	-	-	-	-	3	.15	1.5	31%	35%	.31	7%	1.9

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
NIU Defense	6	45%	50%	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	.43	1.6	30%	38%	.59	7%	2.2
KENT Offense	4	41%	61%	22.5	31.5	323.5	10.3	14.4	14	2	.7	1.6	24%	40%	.87	3%	2.5

Northern Illinois's Power Ratings
Northern Illinois's Power Rating: NR
Northern Illinois's Offense Rating: NR
Northern Illinois's Defense Rating: NR
2021 Talent Rating: #114
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% NR
Northern Illinois's 2021 Expected Record: -
Northern Illinois's 2021 Overall SP+ Rating: -7.1 #98
Northern Illinois's Offense SP+ Rating: 29.4 #62
Northern Illinois's Defense SP+ Rating: 36.1 #117

Average Talent
Average Mountain West Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 0
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Power Ratings Matchup
Northern Illinois: Kent State: -0.7

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Northern Illinois: -7.1 Kent State: -6.4

Kent State's Power Ratings
Kent State's Power Rating: -0.7 NR
Kent State's Offense Rating: NR
Kent State's Defense Rating: NR
2021 Talent Rating: #113
Blue Chip Ratio: 0 NR
Kent State's 2021 Expected Record: -
Kent State's 2021 Overall SP+ Rating: -6.4 #94
Kent State's Offense SP+ Rating: 32.3 #45
Kent State's Defense SP+ Rating: 36.9 #121

Average Talent
Average Mid-American Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 0
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Northern Illinois Scoring
Offense: 17.1 PPG
Offense on Road: 16.3
Defense: 24.3 PPG
Defense on Road: 27.8

Northern Illinois's 2021 Record
Record: 9 - 5
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 1
Over/Under Record: 8 - 6
Record on Road: 4 - 2
Record vs Spread on Road: 4 - 2 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 6 - 3 - 1
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 3 - 2 - 0

Projected Score
Kent State 25
Northern Illinois 22

Projected Total Points: 47

Kent State Scoring
Offense: 21.3 PPG
Offense at Home: 26.2
Defense: 33.6 PPG
Defense at Home: 20.6

Kent State's 2021 Record
Record: 7 - 7
Record vs Spread: 6 - 8 - 0
Over/Under Record: 6 - 8
Record at home: 5 - 0
Record vs Spread at home: 4 - 1 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 5 - 2 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 3 - 1 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2025	11/28	Northern Illinois	31	Kent State	35	Northern Illinois -5.0	Kent State	45.0	Over
2023	11/25	Kent State	27	Northern Illinois	37	Northern Illinois -20.5	Kent State	44.5	Over
2021	11/03	Kent State	52	Northern Illinois	47	Kent State -3.5	Kent State	72.0	Over
2021	12/04	Northern Illinois	41	Kent State	23	Kent State -3.5	Northern Illinois	75.5	Under
2017	10/07	Northern Illinois	24	Kent State	3	Northern Illinois -23.5	Kent State	44.5	Under
2016	11/25	Kent State	21	Northern Illinois	31	Northern Illinois -5	Northern Illinois	45.5	Over
2014	10/04	Northern Illinois	17	Kent State	14	Northern Illinois -22	Kent State	0
2013	10/05	Kent State	24	Northern Illinois	38	Northern Illinois -9.5	Northern Illinois	0
2012	11/30	Kent State	37	Northern Illinois	44
2011	10/08	Northern Illinois	40	Kent State	10
2008	11/18	Kent State	14	Northern Illinois	42
2007	11/10	Northern Illinois	27	Kent State	20
2005	10/22	Kent State	3	Northern Illinois	34
2002	09/28	Northern Illinois	13	Kent State	6
2001	10/13	Kent State	44	Northern Illinois	34

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Kent State	3	5	4 Overs
Northern Illinois	12	3	2 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	8 - 7	3 - 5	1 - 3	2 - 2
Road Teams	7 - 8	5 - 3	2 - 2	3 - 1

(#) NIU at (#) KENT

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	NIU	KENT
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	NR	NR
SP+SP+	#98	#94
Perf GradeGrade	#105	#81
OffenseOff	#51	#24
DefenseDef	#128	#116
Spec TeamsST	#78	#37
TalentTal	#114	#113
Blue ChipsBC%	NR	NR

Northern Illinois Injury Report

Kent State Injury Report

Northern Illinois on Offense


CategoryCat	NIU Off	KENT Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#51	#116
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	NR	NR
SP+SP+	#62	#121
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Northern Illinois Run Game


CategoryCat	NIU Off	KENT Def
Run GameRun	#25	#125
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#52	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#110

Northern Illinois Pass Game


CategoryCat	NIU Off	KENT Def
Pass GamePass	#104	#94
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#68	#116
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Kent State on Offense


CategoryCat	KENT Off	NIU Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#24	#128
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	NR	NR
SP+SP+	#45	#117
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Kent State Run Game


CategoryCat	KENT Off	NIU Def
Run GameRun	#1	#127
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#51	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#72

Kent State Pass Game


CategoryCat	KENT Off	NIU Def
Pass GamePass	#17	#121
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#64	#127
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Program Comparison
KENT 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg G5
'21 Profile: Up to Average G5

NIU 5 Year Profile: Consistent Below Avg G5
'21 Profile: Up to Average G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Dix Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Rematch from Week 14
Kent State 3.5 (75.5)
Northern Illinois won at Kent State this year (41-23)

Previous Matchups
Kent State beat Northern Illinois last year (35-31)
Northern Illinois beat Kent State in 2023 (37-27)

NIU's OC Eric Eidsness (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG

View Northern Illinois's Full Roster

NIU's DC Derrick Jackson (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

KENT's OC Andrew Sowder (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG

View Kent State's Full Roster

KENT's DC Tom Kaufman (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD