Wednesday MACtion Odds, Predictions and Best Bets – Buffalo vs Northern Illinois, Central Michigan vs Ball State

• Northern Illinois visits Buffalo on Tuesday night with a chance to clinch the MAC East title
• In another MAC game Tuesday, Ball State hosts Central Michigan
• A look at both matchups can be found below with odds and predictions

Northern Illinois can clinch the Mid-American Conference’s East Division title with a victory when it visits Buffalo at 7:00 p.m. ET Wednesday at UB Stadium.

Northern Illinois (7-3 overall, 5-1 MAC) is one game clear of Central Michigan (6-4, 4-2) with two games to play. However, the Huskies hold the head-to-head tiebreaker after beating the Chippewas 39-38 on Oct. 23.

Northern Illinois is slightly favored on the road in the game that will be televised by ESPN2.

Central Michigan plays at Ball State at 7:00 p.m. ET Wednesday at Schuemann Stadium in Muncie, Ind. ESPNU will televise the matchup in which the Chippewas are small favorites.

Northern Illinois vs Buffalo Odds

All odds as of November 16th at FanDuel.

Northern Illinois is coming off a wild 30-29 victory over Ball State at home last week that saw three lead changes in the final 2:42. John Richardson won it with a 32-yard field goal as time expired.

Richardson was so overjoyed that he ran to the wrong sideline to celebrate.

John Richardson hit the game-winner for NIU and had the time of his life celebrating 😆 pic.twitter.com/44kFk5O8VC

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 11, 2021

Jay Ducker rushed for 155 yards on 24 carries for Northern Illinois and his 10-yard touchdown run with 2:42 left put the Huskies ahead 27-26. Ball State then moved back in front 29-27 on Jacob Lewis’ 48-yard field goal with 1:42 remaining before Richardson came through with his third field goal of the game.

Northern Illinois quarterback Rocky Lombardi was 23-of-38 passing for 264 yards and one touchdown. The Huskies won for the sixth time in their last seven games.

Lombardi and Ducker pace an offense that is 49^th in the nation in scoring with 31.5 points a game and 51^st in total offense with a 429.7 average.

Conversely, Buffalo (4-6, 2-4) is 104^th in both scoring defense (30.6) and total defense (426.1).

The Bulls were thumped by Miami (Ohio) 45-18 last week on the road for their second straight loss. RedHawks quarterback Brett Gabbert threw for 351 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions.

Brett Gabbert drops a dime for Mac Hippenhammer who just gets a foot down for the TD. Miami extends their lead.

BUFFALO 7
MIAMI OH 17

https://t.co/YH5saStEso

— Brendan Moore (@bmoorecfb) November 10, 2021

Buffalo quarterback Kyle Vantrease had a pick and lost a fumble while completing 11 of 20 attempts for 151 yards with no touchdowns. Running back Dylan McDuffie rushed for 91 yards on 20 carries with one TD.

The Bulls were outgained 536-361.

Northern Illinois is so close it can taste the division title and should wrap it up against a Buffalo team trending downward.

• The Pick: Northern Illinois -1.5 (-108)

Central Michigan vs Ball State Odds

Central Michigan running back Lew Nichols III is having a sensational freshman season.

Nichols has rushed for 1,297 in 10 games and topped 100 yards seven times. He also 11 rushing touchdowns and two receiving scores. The workhorse has yet to fumble in 243 carries.

Lew Nichols III plowing through a few Tigers en route to a 27-yard gain! pic.twitter.com/CelfpvdsWt

— Hustle Belt (@HustleBelt) September 4, 2021

Central Michigan ran Nichols 43 times last week in a 54-30 victory over visiting Kent State and he finished with 215 yards and four TDs. The win was the Chippewas’ fourth in their last five games.

Daniel Richardson threw for four touchdowns as he was 21 of 27 for 268 yards. Central Michigan is averaging 32.8 points a game, which ranks 38^th in FBS, and 449.0 total yards, which places the Chippewas 25^th.

The heartbreaking loss against Northern Illinois was the second in the past three games for Ball State (5-5, 3-3).

Carson Steele was a bright spot for the Cardinals by rushing for 109 yards on 21 carries. Wide receiver Justin Hall carries seven times for 79 yards and two scores.

https://twitter.com/FTBVids_YT/status/1458619168253644800

Quarterback Drew Pitts completed just 11 of 26 passes for 126 yards with one touchdown and no picks.

Central Michigan is rolling but Hall, Ball State’s all-time total offense leader, will be playing his final home game. Look for him to have a grand finale in Muncie.

• The Pick: Ball State -1.5 (-112)