UMass and Northern Illinois last played in 2012 and 2013. The Minutemen lost those two games (both under Charlie Molnar) 63-0 and 63-19. The Huskies were coached by P.J. Fleck who was on his way to a Power Five coaching position (Minnesota) and he was running up the score on everyone in the MAC. Fleck was twice the MAC's Coach-of-the-Year and he had a NFL first-round pick in Corey Davis. In 2016 the Huskies finished 12-1 and made the Cotton Bowl.
I was at both games and it was basically no contest. Molnar's era at UMass was unraveling in 2013 and he was replaced by Mark Whipple. The Minutemen played well at Miami (Ohio) and there is a nearly identical 17-point spread. UMass could be in the game if they cut down the mistakes.
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Another big game from Jakobie Keeney-James would help..
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Fox Sorts predicts NIU 30 UMass 12.
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A short, probably AI written post by "Data Skrive", predicts a NIU win.
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Hustle Belt previews the UMass-Northern Illinois game and predicts Huskies 38 Minutemen 17.
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