As we come up to Week 4 of the NCAAF season, the Buffalo Bulls vs Northern Illinois Huskies is bound to be an interesting game. A game of this magnitude is perched at the Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium, a venue with a storied past. The Huskies are at home and will want to stay unbeaten, whereas the Bulls would wish to stop that. These are exciting perspectives from NCAAF bettors and enthusiasts seeking the most effective free NCAAF tips.
Buffalo Bulls vs. Northern Illinois Huskies 9/21/24 Game Info |
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| When: | Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 3:30 PM ET |
| Where: | Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium |
| TV: | ESP+ |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
Buffalo Bulls (2-1) vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (2-0)
So far, Buffalo’s season has been quite a transition of ups and downs, with the issue of consistency becoming quite a concern. Bulls’ offense, led on the ground by Jacqez Barksdale, who has 184 rushing yards and a touchdown here, shows some promise but is poorly executed. The receiving core of this team, led by Victor Snow with 107 yards, has also failed to significantly impact the games consistently. Reflecting on their last five games, their performance against top opponents like Massachusetts and Missouri reveals a pattern: a powerful 34-3 win followed by a demoralizing 0-38 loss, showcasing their fluctuating performance levels.
On the other side of the spectrum, Northern Illinois does not have a loss and also possesses a good team. QB Ethan Hampton has been a surprise with a passer rating of 235.9 completing 526 yards with six touchdowns without interceptions. Antario Brown, with 168 rushing yards was able to add to the team’s air attack, furthering the balanced offensive capability of the Huskies. In their last five games, they have achieved impressive wins against very good teams like Notre Dame and Western Illinois, who recently lost 54 -15 to Northern Illinois, showcasing their attacking strength.
C.J. Ogbonna QB vs. Ethan Hampton QB
For C.J. Ogbonna, this year with the Bulls has not been the greatest, given his 435 passing yards and 51.5% completion rate. Although he has played relatively well, he has not been able to produce at the level expected of him to compete against the best teams in the league. In this regard, Ogbonna’s accuracy issues and his tendency to get sacked (5 this year) may be important problems against the Huskies’ aggressive style of play.
On the other end, the season for Ethan Hampton could not have been any more interesting, as it was so different from this one. Coming in with an amazing completion percentage of 71.% and a remarkable average of 13.5 yards per pass attempt, Hampton has been a keystone in Northern Illinois’ offense. Where he can make long drives without turning the ball over has been crucial.
While the two quarterbacks are in action, their present forms are very likely to be different. Ogbonna will have a tough task in defeating the opposition’s strong defence, while Hampton will attempt to find the weaknesses in the Bulls’ defense. This battle, as predicted; promises to be one of the critical battles of the match that will rake in favor of a strong-huskies side.
NCAAF Odds/Point Spread: Northern Illinois Huskies -15 (-110), Total Odds: 45
The betting landscape for this matchup heavily favors the Northern Illinois Huskies, reflecting their robust start to the season and their historical dominance over Buffalo. The spread sits at a daunting -15, a testament to the perceived disparity between the two teams. With both teams showing a tendency towards lower-scoring games, the total set at 45 points invites bets on the under, considering the defensive capabilities shown, particularly by the Huskies.
Buffalo Bulls Betting Trends
Buffalo’s recent history does not inspire confidence in their ability to cover the spread, with a 2-5 ATS record in their last seven games. This trend is exacerbated when facing Northern Illinois, against whom they’ve also gone 2-5 ATS.
Northern Illinois Huskies Betting Trends
The Huskies, on the other hand, have been solid bets, going 4-1 ATS in their last five games. Their ability to exceed expectations and their balanced offensive and defensive play make them a safer bet to cover the large spread, especially given their consistent performance at home where they’ve seen the total go under in 6 of their last 7 games.
Buffalo Bulls vs. Northern Illinois Huskies 9/21/24 Betting Picks
Given the numbers and the form of both teams, my final recommendation will be inclined toward the Northern Illinois Huskies winning against the spread. The Bulls have inflicted rapidly towards ‘intelligent basketball’, which the Huskies’ offense will surely take advantage of. For prop bets, given the tone of the quarterbacks through the first two games, the best value might be on Ethan Hampton passing for two touchdowns as he has too explosive a start to the season overall.
When it comes to the over/under, however, the better option appears to be the under which, considering their last games, has become a trend for both teams in particular when facing each other. Pay attention to this as well since it allows you to forecast possible flow and scoring of the game, which goes in line with the leading handicapper tips where informed betting comes over with most of the other cooler head strategies.