In a display of two schools that like running the football, Head Coach Chris Creighton and the Eastern Michigan Eagles (-3) are gearing up to face off against their conference foe Ball State Cardinals at Scheumann Stadium. This afternoon matchup is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to ESPN+.
Eastern Michigan Eagles at Ball State Cardinals Betting Preview
In this Saturday Mid-American game, Eastern Michigan is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 3 points. The Eagles are also receiving -155 moneyline odds while the Cardinals are +135. There should be some decent live betting opportunities for this match, and Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 51.5 points.
The Eagles have gained 1.9 units so far and are 5-2 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U mark of 1-5. The Cardinals have lost 0.5 units this season. The team is 4-3 ATS and also has an O/U record of 1-5.
The Eagles have gone 3-4 straight up (SU), including 1-3 SU against conference opponents. The Cardinals are 3-4 SU overall and 2-1 SU in conference play.
The Eagles are coming off a 28-26 victory over Toledo last week. The passing game was on point as the Eagles completed 17-of-23 passes for 183 yards. Tyler Wiegers went 11-for-15 for 83 yards while Mike Glass III completed six-of-eight for 100 yards. Shaq Vann (51 rushing yards on 11 attempts, one TD) and Mike Glass III (125 yards on 10 carries, two TDs) led the running attack while Arthur Jackson III (five receptions, 44 yards) and Blake Banham (four catches, 21 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Ball State just got a 24-23 win over Central Michigan. Riley Neal completed 19-of-26 passes for 183 yards and one touchdown. Neal (55 rushing yards on 24 attempts, two TDs) and James Gilbert (72 yards on 19 carries) handled the running game while Malik Dunner (five receptions, 55 yards) and Miller (five catches, 42 yards, one TD) led the Ball State pass-catchers in the win.
Eastern Michigan’s run the ball on 55.0 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Ball State has an overall rush percentage of 50.2 percent. The Eagles have run for 143 yards per game (including 160 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 12 scores on the ground this year. The Cards are logging 180 rushing yards per game (149 in conference) and have 11 total rush TDs.
If the numbers so far this season can translate to this game, then the Cards ought to be the more disruptive team in the trenches. Their offensive line has given up only 14 sacks while the D-line has registered 16 sacks. The Eagles offensive line has allowed 21 sacks and their defense has got to opposing signal-callerss on just 13 occasions.
The Eagles offensive scheme has averaged 261 yards through the air overall (235 per game versus conference opposition) and has 12 passing TDs so far. The Cards have recorded 265 pass yards per game (302.7 in the MAC) and have 10 total pass scores.
Defensively, Eastern Michigan has let opponents rush for an average of 212 yards and throw for 191 yards per game. The Ball State defense has given up 207.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 196.1 yards per game on the ground. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Eagles have given up an ANY/A of 5.32 to opposing QBs, while the Cards are yielding an ANY/A of 5.12.
Offensively, Glass III is up to 602 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has connected on 61 percent of his 61 attempts with five passing scores and only one interception. He has a sparkling 9.59 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.97 over the last two games.
In the other locker room, Riley Neal has completed 134-of-225 passes for 1,424 yards, nine TDs and three INTs. Neal’s ANY/A sits at 5.86 for the year and 4.65 across his last two games.
When these two schools faced one another a year ago, Eastern Michigan won by six touchdowns 56-14.
RELATED: Week 8 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Ball State Cardinals
SU Winner – Ball State, ATS Winner – Ball State, O/U – Under
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Team Betting Notes
The Ball State defensive unit has sacked opposing QBs 16 times this season. Eastern Michigan has registered 13 sacks.
Both teams have lost four fumbles this year.
The Eagles offense has registered seven pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Cardinals have put up three such plays.
The Eastern Michigan defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Ball State has given up two such plays.
The Eastern Michigan offense has created six rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Ball State has created eight such runs.
The Eagles defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Cardinals have given up nine such runs.
The Over/Under for Ball State’s previous outing going into it was 55. The under cashed in the 24-23 triumph over Central Michigan.
In its last three matches, Ball State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
In its last three contests, Eastern Michigan is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The O/U for Eastern Michigan’s previous game was 62.5. The under cashed in the team’s 28-26 win over Toledo.
Eastern Michigan has averaged 4.2 yards per carry across its past three games and 5.0 over its last two.
Ball State has averaged 3.4 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.2 over its last two.
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