Western Illinois at Northern Illinois - 2024 Matchup Preview

Western Illinois Leathernecks at Northern Illinois Huskies

Saturday, August 31st 2024 (3:30 PM EDT)
Northern Illinois -36.5 (55.5) (0) Open: 0.0
Northern Illinois 54 - Western Illinois: 15

Leathernecks (0 - 2) (0 - 2 - 0)
Coach ( - )
Avg Score : 5 - 47 (5 - 47 on Road)
'24 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Our Line: -0.5 (SP+ NIU -4)
NIU Win prob: 94% | Cover: 38%

Huskies (8 - 5) (5 - 6 - 2)
Coach Thomas Hammock (24 - 33)
Avg Score : 17 - 24 (18 - 21 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8 - 5 (#42)
'24 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

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

Western Illinois's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/31	Western Illinois at Northern Illinois	+36.5	55.5	L 15 - 54	O	N
Fri 9/6	Western Illinois at Indiana	+44.5	52.5	L 3 - 77	O	N

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 Illinois's Schedule

Northern Illinois's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/31	Northern Illinois vs Western Illinois	-36.5	55.5	W 54 - 15	O	Y
Sat 9/7	Northern Illinois at Notre Dame	+28.5	46.5	W 16 - 14	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/21	Northern Illinois vs Buffalo	-13.0	42.5	L 20 - 23	O	N
Sat 9/28	Northern Illinois at NC State	+7.0	46.0	L 17 - 24	U	Y
Sat 10/5	Northern Illinois vs Massachusetts	-14.0	41.0	W 34 - 20	O	N
Sat 10/12	Northern Illinois at Bowling Green	+3.0	46.5	W 17 - 7	U	Y
Sat 10/19	Northern Illinois vs Toledo	-3.0	42.5	L 6 - 13	U	N
Sat 10/26	Northern Illinois at Ball State	-13.5	47.5	L 23 - 25	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Wed 11/6	Northern Illinois at Western Michigan	-2.5	51.5	W 42 - 28	O	Y
Wed 11/13	Northern Illinois vs Akron	-14.0	43.5	W 29 - 16	O	N
Tue 11/19	Northern Illinois at Miami (OH)	+1.5	43.0	L 9 - 20	U	N
Sat 11/30	Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan	-16.5	41.5	W 24 - 16	U	N
Mon 12/23	Northern Illinois vs Fresno State	-2.0	41.0	W 28 - 20	O	Y

Important Stats (2023)

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
WIU		0%	5	0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%	47	0%	0%	0	0	0	0
NIU	#54 (.21)	42% (62)	17.1	45% (45)	3.21 (50)	180	40% (85)	190	3.4 (102)	#36 (.14)	41% (52)	24.3	44% (84)	37% (21)	3.4 (32)	39.8	1.4	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
WIU		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 2023

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
WIU Offense	1	5	5	0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
NIU Defense	13	24.3	20.8	40.7%	3.4	1.2	-	-	-	-	-	56%	43%	44%	37%	13%	.14

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
WIU Defense	1	47	47	0%	0	0	-	-	-	-	-	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
NIU Offense	13	17.1	17.8	42.4%	3.4	1.4	19	370	180	190	5	54%	46%	45%	40%	15%	.21

Additional Stats 2023

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 Illinois	1	0:00	0	NAN%	0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	100
Northern Illinois	13	31:30	18.7	42%	50%	4.5	39.8	1.4	1.2	4.1	1.7	1	27.5

Run Game Stats (2024)

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
WIU Offense	1	0%	0%	0	0	0	0		0	0%	0%	0
NIU Defense	13	56% (122)	44% (84)	-	-	-	-	.14 (69)	3.29 (108)	83% (118)	8% (114)	0.94 (37)

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
WIU Defense	1	0%	0%	-	-	-	-		0	0%	0%	0
NIU Offense	13	54% (39)	45% (45)	35.8	179.8	5	23 (46)	.21 (36)	3.21 (50)	77% (36)	9% (47)	1.08 (29)

Pass Game Stats (2024)

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
WIU Offense	1	0%	0%	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		0	0%	0%		0%	0
NIU Defense	13	43% (12)	37% (21)	-	-	-	-	-	-	10 (67)	.17 (18)	1.4 (14)	32% (66)	24% (9)	.29 (55)	5% (115)	2.2 (109)

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
WIU Defense	1	0%	0%	-	-	-	-	-	-	0		0	0%	0%		0%	0
NIU Offense	13	46% (95)	40% (85)	16.2	28.2	189.8	6.7	11.7	15 (96)	9 (40)	.26 (75)	1.5 (96)	32% (64)	26% (106)	.29 (83)	6% (63)	2.3 (16)

Western Illinois's Power Ratings
Western Illinois's Power Rating: NR
Western Illinois's Offense Rating: NR
Western Illinois's Defense Rating: NR
2024 Talent Rating: NR
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% NR
Western Illinois's 2024 Expected Record: -
Western Illinois's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: NR
Western Illinois's Offense SP+ Rating: NR
Western Illinois's Defense SP+ Rating: NR

Average Talent
Average MVFC Talent Rating is 0
Average Power Five Talent: 432.03
Average FBS Talent: 332.4

Power Ratings Matchup
Western Illinois: Northern Illinois: -0.635

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Western Illinois: Northern Illinois: -3.5

Northern Illinois's Power Ratings
Northern Illinois's Power Rating: -0.635 #73
Northern Illinois's Offense Rating: 16.86 #97
Northern Illinois's Defense Rating: 2.99 #11
2024 Talent Rating: 258.00 #91
Blue Chip Ratio: 0 #102
Northern Illinois's 2024 Expected Record: 8.0 - 5.0
Northern Illinois's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: -3.5 #84
Northern Illinois's Offense SP+ Rating: 20.0 #115
Northern Illinois's Defense SP+ Rating: 21.6 #32

Average Talent
Average Mountain West Talent Rating is 190
Average Power Five Talent: 432.03
Average FBS Talent: 332.4

Western Illinois Scoring
Offense: 5 PPG
Offense on Road: 5
Defense: 47 PPG
Defense on Road: 47

Western Illinois's 2024 Record
Record: 0 - 2
Record vs Spread: 0 - 2 - 0
Over/Under Record: 2 - 0
Record on Road: 0 - 2
Record vs Spread on Road: 0 - 2 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 0 - 2 - 0
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 0 - 2 - 0

Projected Score
Northern Illinois 32
Western Illinois 14

Projected Total Points: 46

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

Northern Illinois's 2024 Record
Record: 8 - 5
Record vs Spread: 5 - 6 - 2
Over/Under Record: 7 - 6
Record at home: 4 - 2
Record vs Spread at home: 1 - 4 - 1
Record as Fav vs Spread: 2 - 5 - 1
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 1 - 4 - 1

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2024	08/31	Northern Illinois	54	Western Illinois	15	Northern Illinois -36.5	Northern Illinois	55.5	Over
2016	09/24	Northern Illinois	23	Western Illinois	28	Northern Illinois -7	Western Illinois	0
2009	09/12	Northern Illinois	41	Western Illinois	7
2002	09/21	Northern Illinois	26	Western Illinois	29

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Northern Illinois	2	1	1 Overs
Western Illinois	2	1	0 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	2 - 2	1 - 1	1 - 1	0 - 0
Road Teams	2 - 2	1 - 1	0 - 0	1 - 1

(#) WIU at (#73) NIU

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	WIU	NIU
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	NR	#73
SP+SP+	NR	#84
Perf GradeGrade	NR	#51
OffenseOff	NR	#80
DefenseDef	NR	#24
Spec TeamsST	NR	#38
TalentTal	NR	#91
Blue ChipsBC%	NR	#102

Western Illinois Injury Report

Northern Illinois Notes(11/18) Rgame mauled Akron, QB meh, Run Def great
(11/8) Off healthy & improved. Rgame/QB Hampton good
(11/7) Owned WMU. Big plays, caused TO's, KR TD
(10/20) Near 400 yds and only 6 pts (Tol)? 4-19 3rd bad
(10/18) Def ranks top 25 in 13 diff stats, #4 in ypg (253)
(10/18) Great 3rd down Def 20% (#1) & Off 48% (#22)
(10/18) New QB Holst v mobile, cannot pass from pocket
(10/14) QB Hampton left BG game (concussion)
(10/13) DL mauled BGU. 5 sacks, hurt QB. Great Def
(10/4) Best Def in MAC? Off #'s awful so far, check back
(9/28) Def held NC St to 171 yds but 4 TOs killed them
(9/8) Outgained ND 388-286, best W of CFB, Def v good?
Northern Illinois Injury Report

Western Illinois on Offense


CategoryCat	WIU Off	NIU Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	NR	#24
SuccessSuc	NR	#52
ExplosiveExp	NR	#5
PPAPPA	NR	#36
PowerPwr	NR	#11
SP+SP+	NR	#32
Pts POPPO	NR	#32
HavocHav	NR	#120

Western Illinois Run Game


CategoryCat	WIU Off	NIU Def
Run GameRun	NR	#22
Run SuccessRSuc	NR	#84
Run ExplRExp	NR	#37
PPAExp	NR	#69
Run BlockR Blk	NR	-
OL YdsOLY	NR	#108
Stuff RateStuff	NR	#125
TackleTak	-	#3

Western Illinois Pass Game


CategoryCat	WIU Off	NIU Def
Pass GamePass	NR	#32
Pass SuccessPSuc	NR	#21
Pass ExplPExl	NR	#14
PPAExp	NR	#18
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	NR	#73
F7 HavocF7	NR	#114
DB HavocDB	NR	#115

Northern Illinois on Offense

Very Run heavy Offense 59%, Pass: 41%
CategoryCat	NIU Off	WIU Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#80	NR
SuccessSuc	#62	NR
ExplosiveExp	#84	NR
PPAPPA	#54	NR
PowerPwr	#97	NR
SP+SP+	#115	NR
Pts POPPO	#102	NR
HavocHav	#50	NR

Northern Illinois Run Game

Very Run heavy Offense 59%, Pass: 41%
CategoryCat	NIU Off	WIU Def
Run GameRun	#90	NR
Run SuccessRSuc	#45	NR
Run ExplRExp	#29	NR
PPAExp	#36	NR
Run BlockR Blk	#20	-
OL YdsOLY	#50	NR
Stuff RateStuff	#63	NR
TackleTak	-	NR

Northern Illinois Pass Game

Very Run heavy Offense 59%, Pass: 41%
CategoryCat	NIU Off	WIU Def
Pass GamePass	#110	NR
Pass SuccessPSuc	#85	NR
Pass ExplPExl	#96	NR
PPAExp	#75	NR
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#58	NR
F7 HavocF7	#47	NR
DB HavocDB	#63	NR

Program Comparison
NIU 5 Year Profile: Improving Average G5
'24 Profile: Remains Average G5

WIU 5 Year Profile: Consistent Poor G5
'24 Profile: Remains Poor G5

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

Rematch from Week 1
Northern Illinois -36.5 (55.5)
Northern Illinois won vs Western Illinois this year (54-15)

Previous Matchups
Northern Illinois beat Western Illinois in 2024 (54-15)

WIU's OC ()

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 Illinois's Full Roster

WIU's DC ()

Top Def	Tack	TFL
Ryan Crandall	17	1
Christian Pierce	15	0
Willie Jones	14	0
KaRon Coleman	13	1

Sacks	Tack	TFL
Ryan Crandall	17	1
Peyton Bradford	4	0
Christian Anaya	1	0
Marcus Morris	1	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
DJ Taylor	7	0	1	1
Diego Neri (Tr)	3	0	0	1
Ryan Crandall	17	1	0	0

NIU's OC Wesley Beschorner (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Ethan Hampton	143	245	58%	1608	12	6	6.6
Josh Holst	65	111	59%	593	2	2	5.3

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Gavin Williams	139	749	4	5.4	71
Antario Brown	115	567	4	4.9	49
Telly Johnson Jr.	103	480	4	4.7	38
Josh Holst	49	230	1	4.7	22

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Trayvon Rudolph	37	403	1	10.9	48
Cam Thompson	27	388	3	14.4	54
Grayson Barnes	31	338	4	10.9	60
Andrew McElroy (Tr)	26	264	0	10.2	42

View Northern Illinois's Full Roster

NIU's DC Nick Benedetto (been DC for 3 years)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Christian Fuhrman (Tr)	61	4	0	1	1
Jaden Dolphin	61	3	0	0	2
Santana Banner	54	2	0	1	4
Nate Valcarcel	53	2	2	4	8

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Devonte O'Malley	38	12	9	4	1
Roy Williams	38	7	7	1	1
Nevaeh Sanders	8	5	5	2	0
Skyler Gill-Howard	48	7	5	4	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Nate Valcarcel	53	2	2	4	8
Jacob Finley	36	3	1	0	8
Santana Banner	54	2	0	1	4