UT-NIU matchup chart

What follows is a position-by-position look at Saturday night's game between Tennessee and Northern Illinois:

Game #: 1148
Site: Knoxville
Date: Oct. 4
Conference: MAC
Coach Match-up:
For the Vols - Fulmer and for the Huskies - Kill

Vols		Huskies
OL	COMMENTS	OL
	With all five starters back from '07, UT's line should be outstanding. So far, it has been good but nothing worth writing home about.
QB's	COMMENTS	QB's
	NIU's Dan Nicholson has a 127.4 passer efficiency rating. Tennessee's Jonathan Crompton has a 95.83 rating and a growing legion of doubters.
RB's	COMMENTS	RB's
	UT's best runner is Arian Foster ... or maybe it's Montario Hardesty ... or maybe Lennon Creer. NIU's best runner (Me'Co Brown) is hurt.
WR's	COMMENTS	WR's
	The Huskies' Nathan Palmer is averaging 35.4 yards per catch (7 catches, 248 yards). UT's receivers have been a huge disappointment.

Vols		Huskies
DL	COMMENTS	DL
	Sophomore defensive ends Chris Walker and Ben Martin have been two of Tennessee's most pleasant surprises this fall.
LB's	COMMENTS	LB's
	Even with Ellix Wilson slowed by injury, flashy Rico McCoy gives UT an edge in this category.
DB's	COMMENTS	DB's
	NIU allows 24 more passing yards per game than Tennessee, despite having faced a weaker level of competition.
S. Teams	COMMENTS	S. Teams
	Mike Salerno (6 of 7 on field goals) and Andy Dittbenner (42.4 yards per punt) give the Huskies a slight edge.

Vols		Huskies
	INTANGIBLES
	The home field isn't much of an advantage when you see 40,000 empty seats and hear your own fans boo you. NIU has everything to gain and nothing to lose.
	PREDICTION
	I think the Vols will be flat, as will their fans. Tennessee should rally from a slow start to pull away in the second half, though. UT 31, NIU 10.