The Buffalo Bulls (2-1) travel to meet the Northern Illinois Huskies (2-0) Saturday at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb, Ill., for the MAC opener for both sides. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Let's analyze BetMGM Sportsbook's college football odds around the Buffalo vs. Northern Illinois odds , and make our expert college football picks and predictions .
The Bulls picked up a 34-3 win over UMass at home last Saturday as a 3-point favorite as the Under (46) cashed. Buffalo rebounded from a 38-0 shellacking from No. 8 Missouri Sept. 7 in its only previous road contest. The Bulls are 2-1 against the spread (ATS), and the Under has cashed in all 3 outings to date.
The Huskies pulled off one of the biggest shockers of the early season, if not the biggest upset. Last time out Sept. 7, NIU went to South Bend and defeated then-No. 5 Notre Dame by a 16-14 score as a 28-point underdog as the Under (47.5) cashed.
NIU has covered both games so far, including a 54-15 win over FCS Western Illinois in its only previous home game as a 35.5-point favorite. The Over (55.5) also cashed in NIU's only previous home contest.
These MAC combatants haven't met since Nov. 17, 2021 in Buffalo, a 33-27 OT win for Northern Illinois. The road team has won the past 3 meetings in the series, including Buffalo's 49-30 win at NIU Nov. 4, 2020 as a 14.5-point favorite. The Over has cashed in the previous 3 meetings, too.
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Buffalo at Northern Illinois odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook ; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list of college football odds . Lines last updated at 9:25 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML) : Buffalo +400 (bet $100 to win $400) | Northern Illinois -550 (bet $550 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS) : Buffalo +13 (-110) | Northern Illinois -13 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U) : 42.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Buffalo at Northern Illinois picks and predictions
Prediction
Northern Illinois 31, Buffalo 17
Northern Illinois (-600) will cost you 5 1/2 times your potential return, which is way too much risk for not enough reward. It isn't a recommended betting strategy to bet such a heavy favorite straight up, or even as part of a multi-leg parlay. Over the long term, it's a poor betting strategy.
AVOID .
Back NORTHERN ILLINOIS -13 (-110) as long as this one stays below a flat 14 or higher. The Huskies are coming off that giant win at Notre Dame, and they've had 2 weeks to prepare for this conference opener. Look for the Huskies to be prepared well.
QB Ethan Hampton has replaced the departed Rocky Lombardi nicely, completing 71.8% of his passes for 526 yards, 6 TD and 0 INT. RB Antario Brown and WRs Gavin Barnes and Trayvon Rudolph give Hampton a handful of solid pass-catching options in the offense, too.
Buffalo +13 (-110) isn't as gifted offensively, as QB C.J. Ogbonna has been erratic. He can pull it down and run, though, and the Bulls have a handful of backfield options to pile up the yards in more of a ground-based attack.
OVER 42.5 ( -110 ) is a solid play in this conference opener. When these teams get together, we generally see a lot of points. The Over has hit in 3 straight meetings since Nov. 30, 2018.
Be careful, as the Under has cashed in 3 straight for UB, but one of those results is because it was shutout at Mizzou, and the Bulls defense shut down Lafayette and UMass in a couple of mismatches at home.
NIU has split the Over and Under through 2 outings, going high in its only previous home game.
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