Northern Illinois vs Arkansas State 2012 GoDaddy.Com Bowl Predictions: The Arkansas State University Red Wolves are listed as 1-point College Football Odds favorites when they take on the Northern Illinois Huskies Sunday night in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. While this game doesn’t have the national appeal as BCS bowls, it is one of the better matchups that should provide some good betting fun. Arkansas State is the clear winner of the Sun Belt Conference, going 10-2 overall and 8-0 in conference play. Northern Illinois, winner of the Mid American Conference West Division, defeated Ohio in the MAC Championship game on Dec. 3. The Huskies went 10-3 on the season and 7-1 in MAC play. ESPN will provide television coverage nationwide starting at 9:00 pm ET.
JustBet.cx Betting information: Arkansas State -1 point favorite ATS; moneyline – ASU -120, NIU +100, total 65 1/2.
Northern Illinois head coch Dave Doeren guided the Huskies to a MAC football championship in his first year at the helm. Arkansas State will be coached by interim head coach David Gunn who took over after their previous coach, Hugh Freeze, left to take the head job at Ole Miss following the season. ASU has hired Gus Malzahn who was offensive coordinator at Auburn to be head coach, however Malzahn will not be coaching the Red Wolves tonight.
The Red Wolves will carry a nine-game winning streak,currently the nation’s second longest, into their first bowl game since 2005. After losing three of their first five games this season, the Huskies rolled out eight straight victories including their 23-20 win over Ohio in the MAC Championship Game.
ASU and NIU are led by two dynamic quarterbacks, Ryan Aplin of ASU and Chandler Harnish for the Huskies. Harnish owns 23 career and single season passing and total offense records. Only two players in the country, Heisman winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor and Case Keenum of Houston, have more total offense than Harnish’s 4,324. Aplin already ranks among the top dthree players in five statistical categories. Aplin is 10th in the nation in total offense, averaging 320 yards per game.
Game Pick: Both teams have great offenses but Arkansas State is also very good defensively. I can’t say the same for NIU. If there is a negative on the Red Wolves it that they are coached by an interim staff. I still like the Red Wolves to nip the Huskies. My Pick – ASU -1.
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