Northern Illinois is heading back to Detroit based on the power of their Defense. For the second year in a row NIU is powered by their D, but this year the unit is even more key to their success then in the past. In many NIU games this year, even in some of their wins, the Huskie offense has been nearly nonexistent.
They have the potential to have a good game, the talent is there, but the offense has been mistake prone. Marcus Childers has thrown 11 touchdowns and completed 57% of his passes. Those are not mind blowing numbers but they are serviceable.