[gojetsgomoxies]

Northern Illinois should be much better team?

NIllinois has been ATS machine the last few years on road (home too).....

definitely seen some suggestion Iowa will be quite improved this year, although i've seen opposite too.

i would assume Iowa has pretty good HFA.....

still this seems like the wrong team favoured to me.

any thoughts? thanks in advance!!

[BigdaddyQH]

Iowa's HC ferentz is on the hot seat. A loss at home to N.Illinois would really heat things up for him. I would not wager against him in this situation, especially since NIU has a new HC.

[Hat McCulloch]

this is a no touch for me. I'm surprised Northern Illinois is the dog though. If anything Iowa -1 but oh well

[sweetjones55]

Be careful on this one. UNI had one of their best teams every last year and Iowa had one of their worst teams ever and Iowa beat them outright in Northern Illinois last year. Also, UNI lost their head coach which is huge. UNI also doesn't have a very good run defense which plays into Iowa's favor as they are a conservative offense with good RB's and great OT that likes to pound the run mostly. Obviously home field advantage is huge. UNI record last year is pretty misleading due to competition which is only reason this line is so low with them on the road. The QB struggled against Iowa and FSU, the two big schools he played last year.

[accuscoresucks]

Love the value here
Uni wins by 10
Past performance, situations, trends, tendencies mean=ship.
Just going by stAts blur great thing is I only have to be right 57% of the time.

[Jrock82]

I think Iowa -3 is the correct play for a few reasons.

*IA is coming off their worst season in in over decade and need to start fast with the fans getting restless for an improved team. They know how important this game is and will come out ready.
*IA will have a very good run game, which NIU may be able to slow down early, but will pay dividends by end of game.
*NIU top returning rusher is out for this game.
*Iowa defenese will is better than people think right now.

[SilverTongueFox]

I think Iowa -3 is the correct play for a few reasons.

*IA is coming off their worst season in in over decade and need to start fast with the fans getting restless for an improved team. They know how important this game is and will come out ready.
*IA will have a very good run game, which NIU may be able to slow down early, but will pay dividends by end of game.
*NIU top returning rusher is out for this game.
*Iowa defenese will is better than people think right now.

isnt Lynch NIU's top returning rusher? I believe he is playing!

[Jrock82]

True...I meant at the RB position.

[Riprob]

I am not touching this game as I don't bet my favorite team (hawks). I turn into a homer and lose money when i do.
Ferentz may be on the hot seat with the media, but not with their AD, too high of a contract buyout for termination.

IA's defense should be improved, however, we have had trouble with the mobile QBs historically (even when we had very highly rated defenses)...I think this will be a close, close game...if rudock doesn't play like vandenburg did for ia last year. As crummy as they were last year, their D kept them close in most games they should have otherwise been blow out in...they did lose 5 of their combined games by 15 total points...

although ia did beat NIU at soldier field last year, ia ripped off a 20 ish yd td run near the end of the game to win it...it was an ugly, ugly game that i fee IA got outplayed in...if lynch is able to get loose and do some things, i think niu wins...if rudock gets something going (above average qb play), ia has a shot...

[Jrock82]

I don't think that Rudock will be asked to do a whole lot this first game. I think they are going to ask him to protect the ball and make the easy play. They are going to ground and pound. I believe that a heavy dose of running will keep NIU's best player (Lynch) off the field. I believe that you will see a heavy does of Weisman, Bullock, Canzeri sprinkled with a pass here or there.

I do agree that this will be a close game throughout, but the constant pounding of the run game, IA should be able to get some separation in the 4th quarter.

[TwoWays]

Is there a line where N. Ill. gives 3 pts. I'd take that for extra money.

[Tahoejoe]

Iowa's HC ferentz is on the hot seat. A loss at home to N.Illinois would really heat things up for him. I would not wager against him in this situation, especially since NIU has a new HC.

What is your definition of a "new coach"? He is last years OC and will use the same system as last year when they went 12-2.

[TwoWays]

Be careful on this one. UNI had one of their best teams every last year and Iowa had one of their worst teams ever and Iowa beat them outright in Northern Illinois last year. Also, UNI lost their head coach which is huge. UNI also doesn't have a very good run defense which plays into Iowa's favor as they are a conservative offense with good RB's and great OT that likes to pound the run mostly. Obviously home field advantage is huge. UNI record last year is pretty misleading due to competition which is only reason this line is so low with them on the road. The QB struggled against Iowa and FSU, the two big schools he played last year.

sweetjizz u fck!