Northern Illinois Huskies - NCAA Football Odds, Lines & Betting

The Huskies ran to third place in the MAC West in 2006, before running out of gas in the Poinsettia Bowl vs. Texas Christian (where they were clobbered 37-7).  Coach Joe Novak needs to come up with a new game plan for his 7-6 squad, even though there are seven returning starters on the offensive end. Gone are running back Garrett Wolfe – who galloped for 1,928 yards and 18 touchdowns and was everything to the Huskies – and quarterback Phil Horvath. 

A second-half slide for Northern Illinois can be directly linked to a slump by Wolfe, and Novak will try to make the team more balanced and less predictable.  Dan Nicholson will have the first crack at Horvath’s role, while Wolfe will be replaced by committee.  Receivers Britt Davis (57 receptions, 731 yards, 3 TD) and Marcus Perez (30 receptions, 406 yards, 5 TD) should see more of the ball with Wolfe gone, but only if the young offensive line gives Nicholson time.  The defense also welcomes back seven starters, and defensive end Larry English (11.5 sacks) is a nuance for opposing offensive linemen.  Craig Rusch is on board to give the Huskies a strong front four.  Linebackers Tim McCarthy (111 tackles) and Cory Hanson form a solid nucleus in the middle and they will have to be solid in the early going as the secondary appears to be the weakness of the defense. 

Dustin Utschig (116 tackles) graduated, leaving a unit that was 107th in the country in pass defense even more susceptible to attack.  The Huskies travel to Central Michigan and host Western Michigan in a three-week midseason span, and a pair of tough road games loom at Wisconsin and Navy.  Even without Wolfe, the outlook is brighter for the Huskies than most believe, and they could sneak into another bowl game with a .500 record.

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