Nov. 03--TV/radio: 7 p.m. Tuesday; ESPN2, WIND-AM 560, WLBK-AM 1360.
Line: Toledo by 8.
Records: Northern Illinois 5-3, 3-1 MAC; Toledo 7-0, 4-0.
Last meeting: Northern Illinois won 27-24 on Nov. 11, 2014, in DeKalb, Ill.
On the offensive: The Huskies are third in the MAC in scoring (36.8 ppg). Drew Hare has passed for 1,819 yards and 13 TDs, while RB Joel Bouagnon leads the conference with 861 rushing yards (5.1 per carry) and 14 TDs.
Getting defensive: CB Shawun Lurry is expected back after sitting out part of the Eastern Michigan game with an illness. He's tied for the national lead with seven interceptions and was named this week as a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
The number: 8. Consecutive seasons of bowl eligibility NIU can achieve with a win.
The talk: The Huskies aren't looking beyond this must-win game, but they need to close with four wins combined with a Central Michigan loss to return to the MAC title game.
Jack McCarthy's pick: NIU averaged 28 first-half points in its last three games while the defense limited the last two to a field goal. Avoiding a second-half letdown is a must against the No. 20 Rockets.
Northern Illinois 38, Toledo 35.
