NIU has played a pretty tough schedule so far, starting out with four road games in their first five, winning at Purdue and Iowa. Only four of their first 11 games were at home.

As a non-BCS conference team batting for a BCS bowl, their motivation to make a statement on the scoreboard is somewhat like teams contending for the BCS Championship Game. They have covered 8-of-9 and each cover has been by six or more, the last three by at least 12.5. WMU is not very competitive, even losing two very winnable games in succession.

Likewise, Jordan Lynch will not win the Heisman, but has a good shot to be one of the five finalists a prestigious honor for a non-BCS school. So he is in a statement mode himself.

The Huskies rank sixth nationally with 309.3 rushing yards per game and eighth with 43.7 points per game. Look for a 40-point rout.