Kent State beat Northern Illinois earlier this season in an odd fashion. Even though it held the Huskies to only 3.4 yards per carry on the ground, it allowed the Huskies to flourish through the air. I don't expect the Huskies to be able to repeat that performance, but Kent State will torch this NIU defense yet again. Also, I'm not overlooking the fact Kent State coach Sean Lewis will consider this game an audition of sorts for a few open coaching positions.

MAC title game from Detroit. I'm gonna go ahead and grab this now because I'm seeing books where this has risen to 3, and then I'd have to use the moneyline on Kent State, which I prefer not to do. The Flashes beat visiting Northern Illinois 52-47 on Nov. 3. I also tend to think it's a positive that Kent State had to play a meaningful game last week -- beating Miami of Ohio in OT to win the MAC East -- while NIU basically tanked at home against Western Michigan with a spot already clinched. Huskies QB Rocky Lombardi didn't play because he was banged up but presumably will here. Any momentum that NIU had is gone following that lopsided loss to the Broncos. Kent State is 4-0 ATS in its past four as a favorite. NIU is 3-12-1 ATS in its past 16 following a double-digit home loss.