Northern Illinois 2023 Future Odds: National Championship, Conference, Regular Season Wins and Player Props

The Northern Illinois Huskies have historically been one of the top college football programs in the Mid-American Conference. That’s what made last year’s struggles (3-9 record) so disappointing.

The Huskies may be a prime candidate to rebound, especially now that quarterback Rocky Lombardi is healthy again. But that’s only part of the puzzle. Read on as we break down some key 2023 Northern Illinois Huskies stats in our team preview.

Northern Illinois At A Glance

Was Last Year an Aberration?

Well, was it? Northern Illinois plummeted down the NCAAF standings in 2022, finishing well below projections. The Huskies went 3-9 with one of the worst defenses in the country. They allowed an average of 32.7 points per game, ranking 115th nationally. Seven opponents scored at least 30 points, while three surpassed 40.

Those failures have ratcheted up the pressure on head coach Thomas Hammock. Hammock is just 17-27 over four seasons at his alma mater. The Huskies did win the Mid-American Conference in 2021, going 9-5 with an appearance in the Cure Bowl. But clearly, more is expected.

Fortunately, quarterback Rocky Lombardi, who was limited to four games last year due to injury, is returning for a seventh season after receiving a medical redshirt. Receiver Trayvon Rudolph, who missed all of 2022 with a knee injury, is also back. That duo should do wonders for an offense that was average at best without them. Additionally, sophomore Antario Brown (6.3 yards/carry in 2022) has the potential to be one of the MAC’s best running backs. But so much will depend on health regarding 2023 Northern Illinois Huskies stats.

National Championship Odds: Umm, You Serious?

At +100000, Northern Illinois is the longest of longshots. Need we say more? Its ceiling is a MAC championship, and lower-tier bowl win. But the national championship? Don’t bother.

Conference Odds: Buzz Surrounding Huskies. Again.

Northern Illinois fell flat in its MAC title defense, landing well short of its projections in 2022. That hasn’t scared off oddsmakers or bettors. The Huskies’ odds to win another conference championship have gone from +2800 to +1800 over the last few weeks.

The Huskies are still a bit down the board. Toledo is the favorite (+170), followed by Ohio (+270), Buffalo (+600), Eastern Michigan (+750), and Miami (Ohio) (+800). Then comes Northern Illinois.

Four different schools have won the MAC each of the last four years. That includes, of course, Northern Illinois, which has won five times since 2011. Over that span, nobody has more. That can’t be ignored.

Regular Season Wins: September Could Shape Season

Northern Illinois is penciled in for 6.5 wins, a shade under last year’s projection of 7.0. Whether the Huskies can get there will be determined heavily by how they fare in September. That’s arguably the toughest portion of their NCAAF schedule. The Huskies are currently a 10.5-point underdog for the Sept. 2 opener at Boston College. They’ll also visit Nebraska (Sept. 16), which should be a bit improved under Matt Rhule, before closing the month on Sept. 30 at defending MAC champion Toledo. The Rockets, mind you, return 16 starters, including quarterback Dequan Finn.

The Huskies went just 2-6 in MAC play last season, finishing under .500 in the conference for only the second time since 2007. The regression was eye-opening. We should find out relatively early if they can rebound and post strong 2023 Northern Illinois Huskies stats.

To Make Playoffs: Not a Prayer

No MAC team has ever made the College Football Playoff. It certainly won’t be Northern Illinois. Its schedule isn’t nearly strong enough. The oddsmakers do not see it as realistic.

For college football predictions, odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads.

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