FACTS & STATS: Site: Huskie Stadium (24,000) -- DeKalb, Illinois. Television: Local. Home Record: BSU 3-2, NIU 1-4. Away Record: BSU 3-3, NIU 1-5. Neutral Record: BSU 0-0, NIU 0-0. Conference Record: BSU 4-2, NIU 1-5. Series Record: Ball State leads, 18-14-2.

GAME NOTES: In the season finale for both teams, the Northern Illinois Huskies will host the Ball State Cardinals this Saturday afternoon in a Mid-American Conference tussle at Huskie Stadium. The Cardinals snapped a two-game losing streak back on November 13th when the team dominated Toledo, 41-20. With the victory, the Cardinals became bowl eligible with an overall mark of 6-5. It is the first time since 2002 that Ball State has collected six victories in a season. As for the Huskies, they have dropped six of their last seven games, including a tough, 35-24 setback to Navy this past weekend. Northern Illinois has struggled throughout the season, posting a 2-9 mark, which includes an embarrassing 1-4 record at Huskie Stadium. Ball State leads the all-time series against Northern Illinois, 18-14-2. However, the Huskies have won seven of the last eight meetings, including a 40-28 win last season.

The Cardinals racked up a whopping 446 total yards of offense en route to a dominating 21-point victory over Toledo last week. Quarterback Nate Davis only completed 14-of-20 passes in the win, but finished the game with 265 yards and three touchdowns. Darius Hill and Dante Love were the top two targets for Davis, as Hill finished with six catches, 91 yards and one score, while Hill collected five passes for 128 yards and two TDs. This has been the norm for BSU, which throws the ball as often as possible. Davis has flourished in this system, throwing for an outstanding 3,050 yards and 25 touchdowns against only six interceptions. The receiving tandem of Love and Hill have also made tremendous strides in this pass happy attack. Love is currently leading the squad with 78 catches, 1,094 yards and nine touchdowns, while Hill has grabbed 52 passes for 788 yards and eight TDs.

In the win the defense held Toledo to just 20 points, however the unit was abused for 417 total yards. The team was allowed 203 passing yards, while being gashed for another 214 yards on the ground. Unfortunately the defense has played this poorly throughout the season, and because of its lack of success the unit is surrendering 26.8 ppg. Teams are currently throwing for 218.1 ypg, while also churning out a whopping 215.0 ypg on the ground. Ball State currently ranks near the top of the nation with 17 interceptions, however that total is higher then the team's number of sacks (16). The defense has also had a bit of a problem inside its own 20-yard line as well, as the opponents are currently converting 75 percent of their red zone chances.

The Huskies' offensive unit is not tremendously effective, averaging a mere 18.9 ppg behind 344.9 total ypg. The ground game is producing 147.9 ypg, while the passing attack has done just a little bit better, posting 197.0 ypg. In the recent loss to Navy, the Huskies were led by Justin Anderson, who rushed for 140 yards and one score on just 3.6 ypc. Anderson has clearly been the top threat for NIU on offense, as the tailback is leading the squad with 1,236 yards and eight touchdowns on 4.6 ypc. As for the passing attack, Ryan Morris completed 21-of-35 passes in the loss, finishing the game with 206 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. Morris was filling in for Dan Nicholson, who suffered a concussion. Nicholson could play in the finale on Saturday, but the signal caller has not done particularly well this season when healthy. In nine contests, Nicholson has thrown for just 1,633 yards and has just nine TDs against 14 interceptions.

Since the season-opener the Huskies have had no answer in trying to stop the run, as opponents have consistently terrorized NIU on the ground. Entering this matchup the Huskies have been pounded for a whopping 225.2 ypg. Unfortunately the team has also struggled in pass defense, allowing 214.9 ypg with the pass. Heading into last week's matchup against Navy, the Huskies knew the Middies were going to run the ball, but still could not stop the nation's top rushing offense. By the final whistle the Middies gashed the Huskies for 359 yards on 60 carries. The defense did not make one big play in the contest, finishing the game with zero turnovers and no sacks. Both areas have been a sore spot for this unit, as the team has forced just 15 miscues, while collecting only 19 sacks.

The Huskies should be able to run the ball against Ball State, however for Northern Illinois to win, the team must rely on the play of its defense, and that is never a good thing.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ball State 42, Northern Illinois 24

Saturday, November 24th, 4:00 p.m. (et)