We can’t afford to lose to Ball State. We are better than most of the MAC. We need all hands on deck. No more excuses from players and coaches.

We may be better than most of the MAC but you have no way of knowing that right now! NIU is a 1-3 team ranked as one of the worst teams in the nation until they prove otherwise. A close score vs Kentucky means nothing. Time to get a win and Beat Ball State!

After watching the decent performance vs Kentucky, I don’t know when I’ve been more confused about an NIU team heading into MAC play.

This is definitely a big game. Win and all nonconference troubles are forgotten. We're back and focused on getting to Detroit.

Losing however, puts you at 1-4 and behind the eight ball in the MAC.

WE GOT THIS. BEAT BALL STATE. THE HARD WAY!

Start early and don't let up. This team needs to learn to close the deal.
All three loses could have easily gone the other way with some breaks and proper play calling

After seeing the defense get better last week and the offense making some plays with a back-up, I look at us winning by 2 scores atleast. I was pleasantly surprised with how much pressure our D was getting on a GOOD SEC line.

(09-26-2022 12:59 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  After seeing the defense get better last week and the offense making some plays with a back-up, I look at us winning by 2 scores atleast. I was pleasantly surprised with how much pressure our D was getting on a GOOD SEC line.

I was really happy about how much more competent the secondary looked. Sure, they gave up big plays. But they at least looked fundamentally sound in coverage.

Also, really hoping we've learned that Hansen can't cover at a D1 level. And if we have him back there, he absolutely can't be left 1:1 with anyone.

The coaches don’t know how to put the pedal to the metal. If we go up 7, we’ll start running up the middle every play.

(09-26-2022 04:18 PM)DiehardHuskie Wrote:  The coaches don’t know how to put the pedal to the metal. If we go up 7, we’ll start running up the middle every play.

Very true. I cannot remember a game where we did put the pedal to the metal.

(09-26-2022 01:16 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(09-26-2022 12:59 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  After seeing the defense get better last week and the offense making some plays with a back-up, I look at us winning by 2 scores atleast. I was pleasantly surprised with how much pressure our D was getting on a GOOD SEC line.

I was really happy about how much more competent the secondary looked. Sure, they gave up big plays. But they at least looked fundamentally sound in coverage.

Also, really hoping we've learned that Hansen can't cover at a D1 level. And if we have him back there, he absolutely can't be left 1:1 with anyone.

I’ve seen Hansen’s shadow get separation in coverage from him.

(09-26-2022 05:00 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-26-2022 01:16 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(09-26-2022 12:59 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  After seeing the defense get better last week and the offense making some plays with a back-up, I look at us winning by 2 scores atleast. I was pleasantly surprised with how much pressure our D was getting on a GOOD SEC line.

I was really happy about how much more competent the secondary looked. Sure, they gave up big plays. But they at least looked fundamentally sound in coverage.

Also, really hoping we've learned that Hansen can't cover at a D1 level. And if we have him back there, he absolutely can't be left 1:1 with anyone.

I’ve seen Hansen’s shadow get separation in coverage from him.

Great at tackling. Terrible in coverage. He should be on punt team.

The template for beating us is out there and has worked three consecutive weeks. Unless our coaches adjust we’re gonna keep losing the same way.

(09-26-2022 01:16 PM)HawaiiToNIU Wrote:  

(09-26-2022 12:59 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  After seeing the defense get better last week and the offense making some plays with a back-up, I look at us winning by 2 scores atleast. I was pleasantly surprised with how much pressure our D was getting on a GOOD SEC line.

I was really happy about how much more competent the secondary looked. Sure, they gave up big plays. But they at least looked fundamentally sound in coverage.

Also, really hoping we've learned that Hansen can't cover at a D1 level. And if we have him back there, he absolutely can't be left 1:1 with anyone.

Glad I’m not the only one.

I saw a betting line that NIU is a 3 pt favorite. FWIW.

Agreed. We need to start conference play on the right foot and set the tone for the rest of the season.

(09-25-2022 08:08 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:  We can’t afford to lose to Ball State. We are better than most of the MAC. We need all hands on deck. No more excuses from players and coaches.

We’re battled tested. Missing some key players, but showed that didn’t matter against KY. We are going to drill Ball State.

(09-26-2022 08:58 PM)NIU84 Wrote:  I saw a betting line that NIU is a 3 pt favorite. FWIW.

My first instinct is to say that line is low but it’s basically a pick ‘em, which is fair given that we still don’t know how about how we will stack up against the MAC given just how historically bad they add this year. Every MAC team but two lost (one a FCS win and one a P5 win). This game will tell us a lot though about how we will do in the MAC bc Ball State seems like an average mac team—which is bad this year. That said, I’m taking huskies to cover with a TD.

(09-26-2022 11:16 PM)Rawdog10 Wrote:  

(09-26-2022 08:58 PM)NIU84 Wrote:  I saw a betting line that NIU is a 3 pt favorite. FWIW.

My first instinct is to say that line is low but it’s basically a pick ‘em, which is fair given that we still don’t know how about how we will stack up against the MAC given just how historically bad they add this year. Every MAC team but two lost (one a FCS win and one a P5 win). This game will tell us a lot though about how we will do in the MAC bc Ball State seems like an average mac team—which is bad this year. That said, I’m taking huskies to cover with a TD.

I'll say NIU by 10. Another high scoring game I bet, I read BSU's QB is a good passer. But we win 44-34.

From ESPN:
The House of Cards hosts the Northern Ill-ugh-noise Other Huskies in another clash of 1-3 #MACtion squads, this time in the West. If Ball State were to lose, it would move on to meet another current 1-3 MAC team in Central Michigan, followed by another set of Huskies in UConn on Oct. 15, followed by Bottom 10 Waiting List member Eastern Michigan and then State of Kent, also currently 1-3. Aw, who are we kidding? No one can keep up with all of this. So, until we tell you otherwise, just assume that any MAC team you see right now is 1-3 because eight of its dozen teams are, and the other four are 2-2.