College Football Picks and Odds November 18th – NIU vs Ball State, Toledo vs Eastern Michigan & WMU vs CMU

• Central Michigan hosts Western Michigan in a matchup of unbeatens in the Mid-American West Division
• Ball State looks to win its second straight game when it plays at home against winless Northern Illinois & Eastern Michigan will try for its first win of the season against visiting Toledo
• See the odds, spreads and picks for Wednesday “MACtion” within the story below

Three MAC West games are on tap for Wednesday night, including a matchup of two unbeaten teams.

Western Michigan and host Central Michigan will take 2-0 records into their 7:00 p.m. game at Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Mich. They are tied for first place in the division.

Also at 7:00 p.m, Northern Illinois (0-2) visits Ball State (1-1) at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Ind., and Eastern Michigan (0-2) hosts Toledo (1-1) at Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, Mich.

Quick breakdowns of each matchup can be found below.

Western Michigan vs. Central Michigan Odds

All odds taken Nov. 17 from FanDuel

Western Michigan generated plenty of national publicity last week when it rallied for a 41-38 home victory over Toledo.

Down 38-28 with just under three minutes remaining, the Broncos drove 70 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown to get within three points with 45 seconds left.

Western Michigan then recovered on an onside kick and used some trickery to score the winning TD with 17 seconds remaining. Quarterback Kaleb Eleby faked a clock-killing spike and threw a 9-yard scoring pass to Jaylen Hall.

THE FAKE SPIKE WORKS TO PERFECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

BRONOCS TAKE THE LEAD! WITH :17 SECONDS LEFThttps://t.co/2LtEsaPt9l pic.twitter.com/GwKNNDU1EU

— Western Michigan Football (@WMU_Football) November 12, 2020

Eleby has completed 71 percent of his passes this season for 546 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. Central Michigan should present a good test for Eleby as the Chippewas are allowing just 202.5 passing yards a game.

Defense has indeed been Central Michigan’s strength so far as it is giving up an average of 18.5 points and 292.5 total yards. Opponents have converted just six of 26 third downs.

However, Central Michigan has not faced a quarterback as talented – or tricky – as Eleby.

Pick: Western Michigan -0.5 (-105)

Northern Illinois vs Ball State Week 12 Odds

Ball State also rallied to win last week, coming from 14 points down to beat visiting Eastern Michigan 38-31.

Caleb Huntley’s 1-yard touchdown run with six second to go gave the Cardinals the victory. The senior had a career-high 204 yards and three TDs on 34 carries, raising his season yardage total to 334.

. @1DukeHuntley for the game. #DOB #1AAT pic.twitter.com/8stYjY4pFL

— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) November 12, 2020

Wide receiver Justin Hall has the longest active streak in the FBS with a reception in 38 consecutive games. He also leads all active FBS players with 219 catches.

Ball State is averaging 34.5 points and 507 yards per game.

While Northern Illinois is winless, it has been able to control the ball an average of 35 minutes a game. The Huskies also led the nation in third down defense, allowing opponents to convert just 20 percent of those situations.

Yet Northern Illinois is averaging just 20 points and 320.5 yards a game. The Huskies don’t figure to be able to keep up with Ball State.

Pick: Ball State -14.5 (-110)

Toledo vs Eastern Michigan Odds

As mentioned above, Toledo dropped a heartbreaker to Western Michigan last week. Now the Rockets will try to bounce back.

Quarterback Eli Peters shined in the loss. He completed 30 of 46 passes for 339 yards and a touchdown.

Through two games, Peters has thrown for 553 yards and five TDs while being interception only once in 78 attempts. His competition percentage is 64.1.

Toledo has rolled up an average of 512.5 total yards a game – 276.5 passing and 236.0 rushing. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan is giving up an average of 483.5 total yards, including 258.0 rushing.

If Toledo can win that matchup, it should be a nice belated birthday present for coach Jason Candle.

Happy Birthday to Jason Candle!#ONErocket pic.twitter.com/fyIt6VFeG8

— Toledo Football (@ToledoFB) November 12, 2020

Eastern Michigan’s Preston Hutchinson is a dangerous dual-threat quarterback. In last week’s loss to Ball State, he passed for 250 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 103 yards and three scores.

The junior had minus-23 career rushing yards going into the game.

Eastern Michigan has a proclivity for keeping things close as 12 of its last 17 games have been decided by one score. However, the Eagles are going to have a hard time stopping Toledo’s productive offense.

Pick: Toledo -6.5 (-110)