Western Michigan at Northern Illinois Week 12 College Football Matchup Western Michigan at Northern Illinois Matchup - Week 12
Wed, Nov 15 2023 · Week 12 · 🏟 Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL · Turf · 23,595 cap
Western Michigan✈ 164 mi-1 hr TZ
0 24
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Western Michigan
20
NIU -4.5
Northern Illinois
31
P&R Line Northern Illinois -10.5
P&R Total O/U 51
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Northern Illinois -4.5 · O/U 55.5
Matchup Prediction
Metrics disagree on this matchup
Momentum Control favors Northern Illinois, while Game Control favors Western 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%
Western Michigan wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Northern Illinois -4.5
O/U 55.5
ESPN Bet
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Northern Illinois · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Northern Illinois 2nd straight Home Game
Western Michigan 2023 Schedule
Western Michigan's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 8/31Western Michigan vs St. Francis (PA)-14.0W35–1758.0W35–17UY
Sat 9/9Western Michigan at Syracuse+24.5L7–4856.5L7–48UN
Sat 9/16Western Michigan at Iowa+28.5L10–4143.5L10–41ON
Sat 9/23Western Michigan at Toledo+21.5L31–4952.5L31–49OY
Sat 9/30Western Michigan vs Ball State-1.5W42–2450.0W42–24OY
Sat 10/7Western Michigan at Mississippi State+21.5L28–4154.5L28–41OY
Sat 10/14Western Michigan vs Miami (OH)+7.5L21–3446.0L21–34ON
Sat 10/21Western Michigan at Ohio+16.5L17–2052.0L17–20UY
Sat 10/28Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan-3.0W45–2150.0W45–21OY
— Bye Week —
Tue 11/7Western Michigan vs Central Michigan-3.5W38–2857.5W38–28OY
Tue 11/14Western Michigan at Northern Illinois+4.5L0–2455.5L0–24UN
Tue 11/21Western Michigan vs Bowling Green+2.0L10–3454.5L10–34UN
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
Western Michigan #85
+0.298
Northern Illinois #54
+0.432
Northern Illinois Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Western Michigan #96
+0.369
Northern Illinois #75
+0.592
Northern Illinois Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Western Michigan #13
0.194
Northern Illinois #120
0.130
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Western Michigan Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Western Michigan #72
+7.288
Northern Illinois #102
+7.552
Northern Illinois Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Western Michigan #90
+0.809
Northern Illinois #62
+0.866
Northern Illinois Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Western Michigan #101
71.7
Northern Illinois #115
72.5
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Western 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
Western Michigan Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Western Michigan
-5.6
Northern Illinois
-17.9
Offense Rating
Western Michigan
14.5
Northern Illinois
8.5
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Western Michigan
20.1
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
Western Michigan #114
0.67
Northern Illinois #78
0.78
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Western Michigan #94
1.56
Northern Illinois #24
1.00
Northern Illinois +0.11
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 9 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Western Michigan Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Western Michigan #1
43.8
Northern Illinois #1
27.1
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Western Michigan #103
43.4
Northern Illinois #87
52.9
Western Michigan +16.7
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 64.9% of games historically
Based on 10 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
Western Michigan
Lance Taylor #1
1–2 (33%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Billy Cosh Yr 1 #1
DC Lou Esposito Yr 3 #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