Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

FACTS & STATS: Site: Huskie Stadium (31,000) -- DeKalb, Illinois. Television: ESPN3.com Home Record: Army 0-0, Northern Illinois 0-0. Away Record: Army 0-0, Northern Illinois 0-0. Neutral Record: Army 0-0, Northern Illinois 0-0. Conference Record: Army 0-0, Northern Illinois 0-0. Series Record: Army leads, 1-0.

GAME NOTES: Army will begin its 122nd season of football this weekend when it visits Northern Illinois, which is fresh off an 11-win season and a win in the Humanitarian Bowl last season.

This marks the fifth consecutive time Army will play a Mid-American Conference opponent to open the season. In 2010, the Black Knights took advantage of 14 returning starters and had its best season in 15 years, finishing 7-6 and earning its first bowl berth since 1996. Army beat SMU 16-14 in the Armed Forces Bowl, which marked the programs first bowl win since 1985.

Northern Illinois also tasted bowl success, and the Huskies' road to a 40-17 win over Fresno State in the Humanitarian Bowl was dominant at times. After nearly knocking off Illinois and beating Minnesota in the non-league schedule, the Huskies beat MAC opponents by an average of 31.9 points per game, and finished with an 11-3 record. Head coach Jerry Kill took off for Minnesota and Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren was hired to take over in the offseason, and he'll inherit 47 returning letterman. Army is bringing back 41.

Army leads the series 1-0, with the only other meeting between the teams coming in 1992 at West Point.

Army's triple-option offense finished eighth nationally in rushing yards per game a year ago (251.6), and head coach Rich Ellerson's attack should be potent again with the Black Knights returning their top two rushers in junior quarterback Trent Steelman and junior fullback Jared Hassin. Steelman is one of the country's most experienced quarterbacks with 25 career starts, and his 721 yards were only second to Hassin's 1,013 in 2011, with the junior fullback also scoring 9 touchdowns (Steelman had 11 TDs). The Black Knights will have to compensate for four departed offensive lineman, but are in year four of Ellerson's scheme and have solid young running backs in sophomore Raymond Maples and junior Brian Cobbs, who offer change-of-pace speed to Hassin's power.

The defense has five returning starters, and there is a lot to replace after all three tiers of the unit were depleted by graduation. The good news is that the linebacker corps will have improved health heading into 2011. Middle linebacker Steven Erzinger has started 25 games at Army, and recorded 76 tackles (4.5 TFLs) a year ago. Andrew Rodriguez led the team in tackles (86) in 2009, but missed the entirety of 2010 with a back injury. The defensive line is revamped, but there is a slew of upperclassmen with experience, including junior end Jarrett Mackey, who registered four sacks and 6.5 TFLs in 2010.

Northern Illinois returns eight starters to its explosive offense, which had the 19th best yard per game (450) output in the country in 2010. If he picks up where he left off from the 2010 season, senior quarterback Chandler Harnish figures to be menace for the Army defense - Harnish threw for 2,530 yards and 21 touchdowns (157.82 passing efficiency rating), and ran for another 836 yards and seven TDs. Harnish has three of his top targets back from 2010 as well, including seniors Martel Moore and Willie Clark, who combined for 82 grabs and 11 TDs in 2011, as well as senior receiver Nathan Palmer, who registered a 18.3 yard per catch average last year. The Huskies do have to accommodate for the loss of running back Chad Spann, who put up monster numbers in 2010 (1,388 yards, 22 TDs) but have senior Jasmin Hopkins and sophomore Akeem Daniels who combined for over 400 yards rushing and five TDs in 2010. Hopkins will start against Army.

The Northern Illinois defense has only two starters back on a unit that ranked 26th nationally in total defense in 2010. First team all conference defensive end Sean Progar returns to anchor the defensive line, where he put up four sacks and 10 TFLs in 2010. Free safety Tommy Davis is the only returning starter, and is the teams leading returning tackler with 76 a year ago. He also recovered four fumbles for the Huskies. Doeren brought on new defensive coordinator Jay Niemann from Division III Hardin-Simmons, who will have to inspire new playmakers on all tiers of the unit. The secondary has a lot of players with experience through Kill's rotation a year ago, including junior corner Rashaan Melvin and sophomore strong safety Demtrius Stone, who had 20 tackles and three pass break ups in 11 games a year ago.

Despite Northern Illinois' youthful defense matching up a powerful run game from Army, the ball-control minded Black Knights are not a team designed to play in a shootout, which is what the Huskies' offense will likely dictate behind Harnish. This game should be competitive, but the Northern Illinois offense will be too much in the second half for Army to play keep up.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Northern Illinois 35, Army 21.