Northern Illinois +17 -120 2.4% play
This was a line that moved 3 points up to 18, and back down. I think there is some value on Northern Illinois, and I like fading line moves of 2+ points the first two weeks of the season. Northern Illinois has a proven track record of performing well as underdogs, particularly in physical, grind-it-out games where their stout defense can create timely stops and limit explosive plays from opponents like Maryland. The Huskies' defense is poised to challenge Maryland's true freshman quarterback, potentially forcing mistakes and keeping the score closer than expected. Additionally, NIU boasts an impressive 8-2-1 ATS record in their last 11 Week 2 games, suggesting they often rise to the occasion early in the season.
