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FACTS & STATS: Site: Huskie Stadium (24,000) -- DeKalb, Illinois. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: EMU 5-1, NIU 5-1. Away Record: EMU 1-4, NIU 3-2. Neutral Record: EMU 0-0, NIU 0-0. Conference Record: EMU 4-3, NIU 6-1. Series Record: Northern Illinois leads, 25-14-2.

GAME NOTES: Friday morning Northern Illinois will get a chance to secure a spot in the Mid-American Conference championship game when the Huskies host the Eastern Michigan Eagles at Huskie Stadium.

However, the Eagles also have something to play for, as the team has a chance to finish above .500 for the first time since 1995. Also, even though the team already has six wins, another victory will almost certainly guarantee a bowl appearance. The only reason EMU is still looking for that seventh victory is because the team is coming off a tough, 28-22 setback on the road to Kent State.

As for the Huskies, they began conference play this season with a shocking, 48-41 loss to Central Michigan, which eventually closed out the year with only two league wins. However, since then the Huskies have been an unstoppable force, winning six straight games, including a thrilling, 63-60 decision over Toledo, which is currently tied with NIU for the top spot in the division. If NIU is defeated Friday, the Rockets can make the MAC title game with a win in their game, but ultimately the Huskies fate is in their own hands.

The Huskies currently own a 25-14-2 edge over Eastern Michigan in the all-time series, and that includes NIU's current three-game winning streak in the series. Almost exactly one year ago the Huskies embarrassed the Eagles, 71-3, and that is definitely something Eastern Michigan has not forgotten.

The Eagles have been searching for an offensive identity for quite some time now, but the team might have finally found its niche, and that is pounding the football. Eastern Michigan has been a dangerous bunch when running the ball successfully and on the season EMU is currently producing 226.1 ypg and that comes along with 16 touchdowns.

Quarterback Alex Gillett is pacing the squad with 669 yards and has scored three times, while Javonti Greene is second on the team with 661 yards. Greene is leading the team with six rushing touchdowns, while Dominique White has scored five times via the run and comes into this weekend with 579 yards. However, as a whole the Eagles are averaging just 22.1 ppg and that is because Gillett has struggled with his arm, throwing for just 1,357 yards and only 13 touchdowns.

The last time the Eagles were on the field the team tallied just 22 points in a loss to Kent State. Eastern Michigan finished with 194 yards on the ground, but it was Dominique Sherrer that led the way with 136 yards. Greene scored for the Eagles, while Gillett was bottled up for only 15 yards. Gillett also struggled with his arm, throwing for just 84 yards and two interceptions.

The lop-sided offensive attack has taken away from a valiant effort by this defensive unit. Sure, EMU's love affair with the run has kept its defense off the field for long periods of time, but this unit should also get credit for its vast improvement from last year.

The Eagles are usually a punching bag for teams that like to pound the rock, but this year Eastern Michigan has tightened up on the front line and is now limiting the opposition to just 136.2 ypg and has allowed only 11 touchdowns. Stopping the pass is another issue however, as opponents are averaging over 200 yards per game and have thrown 19 touchdowns against just five interceptions. EMU has struggled trying to force turnovers this year and along with those five INTs, the defense has forced just seven fumbles.

Against the Golden Flashes the Eagles allowed two rushing touchdowns and 121 yards on the ground, but that all came on a mere 2.9 yards per attempt. The defense recorded three sacks, but did not force a turnover in the loss. Two of those sacks came from Andy Mulumba, who also forced a fumble against KSU.

There is not a team in the conference that relies more on one player than the Huskies. Northern Illinois's entire season has ran parallel with the play of Chandler Harnish and clearly the gunslinger is having a tremendous season, because NIU heads into this game averaging 41.5 ppg and is one win away from claiming a spot in the conference title game.

Harnish has been a model of consistency throwing the ball this year, and comes into this matchup with 2,594 yards and 22 touchdowns. The signal caller has completed 64.0 percent of his passes, but more importantly he has thrown just four interceptions.

On top of his passing success, the quarterback is also leading the team with 1,203 rushing yards and has added another 10 touchdowns on the ground. Harnish, teamed with Jasmin Hopkins, gives the Huskies a dangerous duo in the backfield. Hopkins has rumbled for 841 yards on the season and has found the end zone 15 times.

Harnish was at it again in the team's win over Ball State, as the quarterback threw for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Harnish added 181 yards and one score on the ground, while Hopkins chimed in with 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Not everything has been perfect in DeKalb, and that is because Northern Illinois has a clear weakness. The NIU defense is lucky to have Harnish running the show offensively, because if not then the team's record would be drastically different and that is because the Huskies have been dreadful on the other side of the ball, allowing 33.8 ppg.

Opponents have been able to abused NIU on the ground, or through the air and with the regular season on the cusp of ending, the Huskies come into this weekend allowing 186.5 ypg on the ground and that comes along with 21 rushing touchdowns. On top of that, the secondary for the Huskies is being torched for 248.0 ypg and has already surrendered 26 touchdowns.

Even though NIU claimed its sixth straight win in its decision over Ball State the defense still managed to allow 245 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and was also beaten for two scores on the ground as well. It was the third time in the last four games that the Huskies have surrendered 30 or more points, and that includes the 60 points Toledo scored against NIU.

Regardless of NIU's struggled defensively, the bottom line is that no team in this league can stop Harnish and he will prove this Friday afternoon while he is deserving of the league's Player of the Year award.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Northern Illinois 41, Eastern Michigan 24