Western Michigan at Northern Illinois

Western Michigan at Northern Illinois - 2021 Matchup Preview

Western Michigan Broncos at Northern Illinois Huskies

Tuesday, November 23rd 2021 (7:00 PM EST)
Western Michigan -6.5 (60.0)
Western Michigan 42 - Northern Illinois: 21 (Mid-American)

Broncos (8 - 5) (6 - 6 - 1)
Coach Tim Lester (26 - 21)
Avg Score : 25 - 17 (18 - 22 on Road)
'21 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

WMU 2nd straight Road Game
NIU is playing their 4th straight game
WMU is playing their 4th straight game
Our Line: -1.5 (SP+ WMU -7.5)
Projected Score: WMU: 22 - NIU: 18 (40)
WMU Win prob: 68% | Cover: 48%
WMU Travel: 165 miles, 1 hrs ahead

Huskies (9 - 5) (9 - 4 - 1)
Coach Thomas Hammock (6 - 15)
Avg Score : 17 - 24 (18 - 21 @ Home)
'21 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

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

Western Michigan's 2021 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 9/4	Western Michigan at Michigan	+16.5	65.5	L 14 - 47	U	N
Sat 9/11	Western Michigan vs Illinois State	-12.5	56.5	W 28 - 0	U	Y
Sat 9/18	Western Michigan at Pittsburgh	+14.0	59.0	W 44 - 41	O	Y
Sat 9/25	Western Michigan vs San José State	-2.5	61.5	W 23 - 3	U	Y
Sat 10/2	Western Michigan at Buffalo	-7.0	59.5	W 24 - 17	U	N
Sat 10/9	Western Michigan vs Ball State	-13.0	57.5	L 20 - 45	O	N
Sat 10/16	Western Michigan vs Kent State	-7.0	68.5	W 64 - 31	O	Y
Sat 10/23	Western Michigan at Toledo	-1.5	54.5	L 15 - 34	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/3	Western Michigan vs Central Michigan	-9.0	64.5	L 30 - 42	O	N
Tue 11/9	Western Michigan vs Akron	-24.5	62.0	W 45 - 40	O	N
Tue 11/16	Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan	-6.0	66.0	L 21 - 22	U	N
Tue 11/23	Western Michigan at Northern Illinois	-6.5	60.0	W 42 - 21	O	Y
Mon 12/27	Western Michigan vs Nevada	-7.0	56.0	W 52 - 24	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 Western Michigan's Schedule

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

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
WMU	.38	53%	24.9	56%	3.55	196	48%	284	4.12	.26	43%	17.4	42%	45%	4.59	65.2	1	0.5
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

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
WMU		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
NIU		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
WMU Offense	6	24.9	18.3	52.7%	4.12	1	24	480	196	284	5	59%	41%	56%	48%	15%	.38
NIU Defense	6	24.3	20.8	46.9%	3.5	1.2	-	-	-	-	-	54%	45%	45%	50%	17%	.24

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
WMU Defense	6	17.4	21.7	43.4%	4.59	0.5	-	-	-	-	-	50%	50%	42%	45%	18%	.26
NIU Offense	6	17.1	17.8	40.7%	3.69	1.7	22	364	123	241	3.3	46%	54%	40%	42%	19%	.08

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
Western Michigan	6	28:09	23.7	43%	63%	7.7	65.2	1	0.5	8.5	3.2	2	33
Northern Illinois	6	33:38	21.5	28%	63%	6.8	69	1.7	1.2	4.3	1.8	0	28

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
WMU Offense	6	59%	56%	39.3	195.8	5	13	.19	3.55	61%	9%	0.8
NIU Defense	6	54%	45%	-	-	-	-	.1	2.74	76%	10%	0.96

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
WMU Defense	6	50%	42%	-	-	-	-	.14	2.63	81%	14%	1.05
NIU Offense	6	46%	40%	36.8	123	3.3	7	-.05	2.69	67%	13%	0.83

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
WMU Offense	6	41%	48%	16.3	25.8	284	11	17.4	18	2	.64	2	25%	37%	.76	6%	2.5
NIU Defense	6	45%	50%	-	-	-	-	-	-	5	.43	1.6	30%	38%	.59	7%	2.2

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
WMU Defense	6	50%	45%	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	.37	1.6	31%	30%	.37	5%	2.2
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

Western Michigan's Power Ratings
Western Michigan's Power Rating: NR
Western Michigan's Offense Rating: NR
Western Michigan's Defense Rating: NR
2021 Talent Rating: #106
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% NR
Western Michigan's 2021 Expected Record: -
Western Michigan's 2021 Overall SP+ Rating: 0.6 #76
Western Michigan's Offense SP+ Rating: 33.1 #39
Western Michigan's Defense SP+ Rating: 29.0 #91

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

Power Ratings Matchup
Western Michigan: Northern Illinois: -1.05

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Western Michigan: 0.6 Northern Illinois: -7.1

Northern Illinois's Power Ratings
Northern Illinois's Power Rating: -1.05 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

Western Michigan Scoring
Offense: 24.9 PPG
Offense on Road: 18.3
Defense: 17.4 PPG
Defense on Road: 21.7

Western Michigan's 2021 Record
Record: 8 - 5
Record vs Spread: 6 - 6 - 1
Over/Under Record: 7 - 6
Record on Road: 4 - 3
Record vs Spread on Road: 2 - 3 - 1
Record as Fav vs Spread: 4 - 5 - 1
Record as Road Fav vs Spread: 1 - 2 - 0

Projected Score
Western Michigan 22
Northern Illinois 18

Projected Total Points: 40

Northern Illinois Scoring
Offense: 17.1 PPG
Offense at Home: 17.8
Defense: 24.3 PPG
Defense at Home: 20.8

Northern Illinois's 2021 Record
Record: 9 - 5
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 1
Over/Under Record: 8 - 6
Record at home: 4 - 2
Record vs Spread at home: 3 - 2 - 1
Record as Dog vs Spread: 6 - 3 - 1
Record as Home Dog vs Spread: 1 - 1 - 1

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2025	11/18	Northern Illinois	19	Western Michigan	35	Western Michigan -7	Western Michigan	39.5	Over
2024	11/06	Western Michigan	28	Northern Illinois	42	Northern Illinois -2.5	Northern Illinois	51.5	Over
2023	11/14	Northern Illinois	24	Western Michigan	0	Northern Illinois -4.5	Northern Illinois	55.5	Under
2022	11/09	Western Michigan	21	Northern Illinois	24	Northern Illinois -1	Northern Illinois	49.0	Under
2021	11/23	Northern Illinois	21	Western Michigan	42	Western Michigan -6.5	Western Michigan	60.0	Over
2020	11/28	Western Michigan	30	Northern Illinois	27	Western Michigan -18.5	Northern Illinois	64.5	Under
2019	11/26	Northern Illinois	17	Western Michigan	14	Western Michigan -10	Northern Illinois	51.0	Under
2018	11/20	Western Michigan	28	Northern Illinois	21	Northern Illinois -6.5	Western Michigan	48.5	Over
2017	11/15	Northern Illinois	35	Western Michigan	31	Northern Illinois -9	Western Michigan	49.5	Over
2016	10/08	Western Michigan	45	Northern Illinois	30	Western Michigan -19	Northern Illinois	68.5	Over
2015	11/18	Northern Illinois	27	Western Michigan	19	Northern Illinois -3.5	Northern Illinois	59.5	Under
2014	11/28	Western Michigan	21	Northern Illinois	31	Western Michigan -7	Northern Illinois	0
2013	11/26	Northern Illinois	33	Western Michigan	14	Northern Illinois -33.5	Western Michigan	0
2012	10/27	Western Michigan	34	Northern Illinois	48
2011	10/15	Northern Illinois	51	Western Michigan	22
2010	10/30	Western Michigan	21	Northern Illinois	28
2009	10/03	Northern Illinois	38	Western Michigan	3
2008	09/06	Western Michigan	29	Northern Illinois	26
2007	10/13	Northern Illinois	13	Western Michigan	17
2006	10/14	Western Michigan	16	Northern Illinois	14
2005	11/23	Northern Illinois	42	Western Michigan	7
2004	10/23	Western Michigan	38	Northern Illinois	59
2003	10/18	Northern Illinois	37	Western Michigan	10
2002	10/26	Western Michigan	20	Northern Illinois	24
2001	10/20	Northern Illinois	20	Western Michigan	12
2000	10/20	Western Michigan	52	Northern Illinois	22

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Northern Illinois	17	8	6 Overs
Western Michigan	9	5	5 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	16 - 10	4 - 9	2 - 5	2 - 4
Road Teams	10 - 16	9 - 4	4 - 2	5 - 2

(#) WMU at (#) NIU

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	WMU	NIU
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	NR	NR
SP+SP+	#76	#98
Perf GradeGrade	#45	#105
OffenseOff	#18	#51
DefenseDef	#88	#128
Spec TeamsST	#134	#78
TalentTal	#106	#114
Blue ChipsBC%	NR	NR

Western Michigan Injury Report

Northern Illinois Injury Report

Western Michigan on Offense


CategoryCat	WMU Off	NIU Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#18	#128
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	NR	NR
SP+SP+	#39	#117
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Western Michigan Run Game


CategoryCat	WMU Off	NIU Def
Run GameRun	#67	#127
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#24	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#72

Western Michigan Pass Game


CategoryCat	WMU Off	NIU Def
Pass GamePass	#47	#121
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#26	#127
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

Northern Illinois on Offense


CategoryCat	NIU Off	WMU Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#51	#88
SuccessSuc	NR	NR
ExplosiveExp	NR	NR
PPAPPA	NR	NR
PowerPwr	NR	NR
SP+SP+	#62	#91
Pts POPPO	NR	NR
HavocHav	NR	NR

Northern Illinois Run Game


CategoryCat	NIU Off	WMU Def
Run GameRun	#25	#88
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	NR
Run ExplRExp	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#52	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	NR
Stuff RateStuff	NR	NR
TackleTak	-	#121

Northern Illinois Pass Game


CategoryCat	NIU Off	WMU Def
Pass GamePass	#104	#116
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	NR
Pass ExplPExl	NR	NR
PPAExp	NR	NR
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#68	#7
F7 HavocF7	NR	NR
DB HavocDB	NR	NR

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

WMU 5 Year Profile: Consistent Top G5
'21 Profile: Remains Top G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Rematch from Week 13
Western Michigan 6.5 (60.0)
Western Michigan won at Northern Illinois this year (42-21)

Previous Matchups
Western Michigan beat Northern Illinois last year (35-19)
Northern Illinois beat Western Michigan in 2024 (42-28)
Northern Illinois beat Western Michigan in 2023 (24-0)

WMU's OC Mike Bath (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 Western Michigan's Full Roster

WMU's DC Lou Esposito (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD

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