Free Pick | NCAA | Saturday | Dec. 23

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#224 Northern Illinois +3 over Arkansas State 11:00 AM CT

This pairing of 6-6 squads features two teams that made second half runs after marginal starts to the season. Northern Illinois won five of the final seven after starting 1-4, with that one early victory a notable upset over Boston College. Arkansas State was outscored 110-3 in the first two games of the season but managed to win four SBC games to land a spot in the postseason. Three significant defensive contributors are out of this game for Arkansas State, from a defense that allowed over 31 points per game this season. Northern Illinois was able to keep top receiver Trayvon Rudolph on the roster after he withdrew from the transfer portal, an important move for a receiving group that was hit hard with injuries this season, a major reason Rocky Lombardi didn’t match his previous success the past two seasons leading the offense. The Huskies did feature a viable run defense down the stretch allowing just 3.4 yards per carry in the final three games and a ground edge certainly looks likely for the Huskies who were a top 15 team nationally this season averaging 5.3 yards per carry.