At 12:00 ET, the Red Wolves and Huskies clash at Cramton Bowl for a week 1 NCAAF matchup. Catch the action on ESPN, with the game set for Saturday, December 23rd. Arkansas State enters this non-conference game against the Huskies as 1 point road favorites. Keep reading to discover my insights and betting recommendations.

ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES VS NORTHERN ILLINOIS HUSKIES BETTING PICK

The Pick: Arkansas State Red Wolves -1

This game will be played at Cramton Bowl at 12:00 ET on Saturday, December 23rd.

WHY BET THE ARKANSAS STATE RED WOLVES:

  • We have this one finishing with a projected score of 28-26 in favor of Arkansas State.
  • Not only will Arkansas State pick up the win, but look for them to cover at -1.
  • The over/under is currently sitting at 53.5 points, and we like the over with a projected 54 points.

Can the Red Wolves Pull Off a Win at Montgomery?

So far, the Arkansas State Red Wolves are 6-6, including going 2-4 on the road and 3-2 at home.

This season, Arkansas State has gone into all of their games as the underdog and have an ATS mark of 6-5. So far, their average scoring margin is -3.4 points per contest.

Arkansas State has put together an over/under record of 6-5 throughout this season. The average combined score in their games has been 58.9 points, and the standard over/under line has stood at 55.6 points.

As they prepare to face the Northern Illinois, the Red Wolves’ offense is averaging 152.9 rushing yards per game and 4 yards per attempt. Nationally, they are 72nd in rushing yards and 70th in passing yards, on an average of 223.4 yards per matchup. Arkansas State has averaged 27.8 points per game so far. This figure places them 55th in the nation.

The Red Wolves defense will take the field with 23 sacks and are 1st QB hurries. When it comes to points allowed, they’re at 31.2 points per game (133rd). Against the pass, the team is 155th in the NCAA, allowing 261.7 passing yards per game. Additionally, Arkansas State’s run defense has 184.3 rushing yards per contest.

Does Northern Illinois Have What it Takes to Win as Home Underdogs?

The Northern Illinois Huskies take on the Arkansas State with a 6-6 record, including 2-3 on the road and 3-2 at home.

Northern Illinois’ average scoring differential for the season is +4.1 leading to an ATS mark of 4-6. The Huskies have been favored seven times and the underdog in three games

This season, Northern Illinois holds an over/under record of 5-5. On average, their games have produced a combined total of 46.4 points, with the typical over/under line set at 47.4 points.

Northern Illinois comes into the game with an offense averaging 25.2, which places them at 67th in the NCAA rankings. Their passing game has them ranked 106th nationally, with an average of 186.2 passing yards. In the rushing department, they’re 45th in the nation, with 416 rushing attempts per game for the season.

Coming into their matchup vs. Arkansas State, the Northern Illinois defense is 73rd in points allowed, giving up 21.2 points per game. So far, opponents have averaged 164.2 passing yards per game against them (18th in the country). Against the run, they’re allowing 154 rushing yards, which ranks them 90th in college football.