Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois Week 8 College Football Matchup Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois Matchup - Week 8
Sat, Oct 21 2023 · Week 8 · 🏟 Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL · Turf · 23,595 cap
Eastern Michigan✈ 263 mi-1 hr TZ
13 20
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Eastern Michigan
18
EMU +11.5
Northern Illinois
25
P&R Line Northern Illinois -7
P&R Total O/U 42.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Northern Illinois -11.5 · O/U 43.5
Matchup Prediction
Metrics disagree on this matchup
Momentum Control favors Northern Illinois, while Game Control favors Eastern Michigan. Split signals historically show weaker predictive confidence — treat as a toss-up.
⚡ Split Signal — Metrics Disagree
Momentum Control
58.4%
Northern Illinois wins
Lean
Game Control
64.9%
Eastern Michigan wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Northern Illinois -11.5
O/U 43.5
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Northern Illinois · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Northern Illinois 2nd straight Home Game
Eastern Michigan 2023 Schedule
Eastern Michigan's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Fri 9/1Eastern Michigan vs Howard-20.0W33–2355.5W33–23ON
Sat 9/9Eastern Michigan at Minnesota+19.5L6–2548.0L6–25UY
Sat 9/16Eastern Michigan vs Massachusetts-7.0W19–1750.0W19–17UN
Sat 9/23Eastern Michigan at Jacksonville State+6.5L0–2151.0L0–21UN
Sat 9/30Eastern Michigan at Central Michigan+9.5L23–2645.0L23–26OY
Sat 10/7Eastern Michigan vs Ball State-2.5W24–1043.5W24–10UY
Sat 10/14Eastern Michigan vs Kent State-7.0W28–1440.0W28–14OY
Sat 10/21Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois+11.5L13–2043.5L13–20UY
Sat 10/28Eastern Michigan vs Western Michigan+3.0L21–4550.0L21–45ON
— Bye Week —
Wed 11/8Eastern Michigan at Toledo+19.5L23–4945.5L23–49ON
Tue 11/14Eastern Michigan vs Akron-3.5W30–2739.5W30–27ON
Tue 11/21Eastern Michigan at Buffalo+6.5W24–1138.5W24–11UY
Sat 12/23Eastern Michigan vs South Alabama+18.0L10–5943.0L10–59ON
Northern Illinois 2023 Schedule
Northern Illinois's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Northern Illinois at Boston College+8.0W27–2450.0W27–24OY
Sat 9/9Northern Illinois vs Southern Illinois-6.5L11–1458.5L11–14UN
Sat 9/16Northern Illinois at Nebraska+11.5L11–3542.5L11–35ON
Sat 9/23Northern Illinois vs Tulsa-3.5L14–2254.5L14–22UN
Sat 9/30Northern Illinois at Toledo+13.0L33–3548.0L33–35OY
Sat 10/7Northern Illinois at Akron-4.0W55–1442.5W55–14OY
Sat 10/14Northern Illinois vs Ohio+5.5W23–1345.0W23–13UY
Sat 10/21Northern Illinois vs Eastern Michigan-11.5W20–1343.5W20–13UN
— Bye Week —
Tue 10/31Northern Illinois at Central Michigan-3.0L31–3748.0L31–37ON
Tue 11/7Northern Illinois vs Ball State-9.5L17–2043.5L17–20UN
Tue 11/14Northern Illinois vs Western Michigan-4.5W24–055.5W24–0UY
Sat 11/25Northern Illinois at Kent State-20.5W37–2744.5W37–27ON
Sat 12/23Northern Illinois vs Arkansas State+2.5W21–1954.0W21–19UY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
Northern Illinois PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Northern Illinois
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Eastern Michigan #123
+0.207
Northern Illinois #54
+0.401
Northern Illinois Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Eastern Michigan #122
+0.278
Northern Illinois #75
+0.521
Northern Illinois Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Eastern Michigan #99
0.149
Northern Illinois #120
0.130
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Eastern Michigan Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Eastern Michigan #74
+7.249
Northern Illinois #102
+7.080
Eastern Michigan Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Eastern Michigan #127
+0.765
Northern Illinois #62
+0.847
Northern Illinois Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Eastern Michigan #105
71.9
Northern Illinois #115
72.5
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Eastern Michigan Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Eastern Michigan Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Eastern Michigan
-8.5
Northern Illinois
-17.9
Offense Rating
Eastern Michigan
10.2
Northern Illinois
8.5
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Eastern Michigan
18.7
Northern Illinois
26.4
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Northern Illinois Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Eastern Michigan #112
0.33
Northern Illinois #78
1.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Eastern Michigan #115
0.33
Northern Illinois #24
0.83
Northern Illinois +0.67
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Eastern Michigan Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Eastern Michigan #1
43.6
Northern Illinois #1
32.4
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Eastern Michigan #72
35.0
Northern Illinois #87
50.6
Eastern Michigan +11.2
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 64.9% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

CSS and GC disagree on this matchup. When the metrics split, historical cover rates are essentially random — treat this as a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Eastern Michigan
Chris Creighton #1
48–62 (44%) · Yr 10 at school
OC Chris Creighton Yr 3 #1
DC Taver Johnson Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Northern Illinois
Thomas Hammock #1
18–29 (38%) · Yr 5 at school
OC Eric Eidsness Yr 3 #1
DC Nick Benedetto Yr 2 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself