Kickoff: 6:35 p.m. Wednesday at Huskie Stadium, DeKalb.
TV/radio: ESPN2, WIND-AM 560, WLBK-AM 1360.
Line: NIU by 3.
Records: Miami 2-2, 1-1; Northern Illinois 1-3, 0-1.
Series: Miami leads 7-3.
Last meeting: NIU won 48-41 on Oct. 12, 2002, in Oxford, Ohio.
Team comparison: (averages, rank)
%%
CATEGORY MIAMI NIU
Rushing offense 131.3 (68) 210.8 (21
Passing offense 315.7 (13) 308.5 (16)
Total offense 447.0 (22) 519.3 (6)
Scoring offense 30.5 (39) 34.5 (25)
Rushing defense 117.5 (41) 170.8 (87)
Passing defense 291.0 (106) 249.0 (80)
Total defense 408.5 (83) 419.8 (90)
Scoring defense 24.5 (55) 30.5 (91)
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NIU outlook: Phil Horvath passed for 486 yards and six TDs–both school records–against Akron. But the Huskies rushed for only 50 yards. “We need to run the ball better,” coach Joe Novak said. “That’s our identity–running the football.” A better balanced offense will produce Northern’s first 2005 MAC victory.
Miami outlook: New head coach Shane Montgomery was offensive coordinator during QB Ben Roethlisberger’s years and brought along Josh Betts, Miami’s current standout QB. Miami will try to exploit NIU’s defense.
