The Toledo Rockets (4-4, 2-2 MAC) are set to host the Northern Illinois Huskies (2-6, 1-3 MAC) in a Wednesday night conference matchup. Toledo has alternated wins and losses over its last six games, most recently suffering a 28-7 road defeat to Washington State on October 25. On the same day, Northern Illinois snapped a six-game losing streak with a 21-7 victory over Ball State.
Kickoff from the Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio, is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The Rockets are listed as 14.5-point favorites, with the over/under for total points set at 41.5.
Northern Illinois enters the game following its best performance of the season. The Huskies’ primary strength is a defense that ranks 15th nationally in both passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed. As one of the most disciplined teams in the country, NIU commits the 16th fewest penalties per game. They will look to exploit a Toledo squad that is among the most penalized teams in the FBS and ranks 117th in red zone scoring efficiency.
However, Toledo has historically dominated this rivalry, holding a 35-17 all-time record and winning the last three encounters, including a 13-6 victory last season. The Rockets have been unstoppable at home, scoring at least 45 points in all four contests at the Glass Bowl this year while committing just two turnovers. Their defense has been equally impressive on home turf, allowing only a single touchdown over the last three games. This poses a significant challenge for Northern Illinois, which is winless on the road this season with an average margin of defeat of 18 points.
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