Western Michigan at Ball State Betting Pick & Spread

Posted by Michael Hunt on Monday,October 31, 2016 12:24, EDT in

Are you ready for some MACtion? The Mid-American Conference stages weekday games late in the season to take advantage of the national TV exposure. And this Tuesday the MAC’s best team, unbeaten and No. 17 Western Michigan, looks to keep its lead atop the MAC West Division when it visits Ball State. Be sure to check out for more college football odds by clicking here.

Take a Closer Look at the Western Michigan at Ball State Betting Pick, Spread & TV Info

When: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 8 PM ET
Where: Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, Ind.
TV: ESPN2
Stream: WatchESPN
Radio: Western Michigan / Ball State
Opening NCAA Football Lines: WMU -18.5 (total TBA)

Why Bet on Western Michigan?

After Boise State’s upset loss to Wyoming over the weekend, WMU is now the highest-ranked Group of 5 school in the country and thus if the Broncos win out, they would play in the Cotton Bowl. The top-ranked Group of 5 team in the College Football Playoff committee’s final rankings is guaranteed a New Year’s Six bid. The first CFP rankings come out Tuesday night, and WMU almost certainly will pass Boise.

As one of just five undefeated college football teams in the country in Division I, Western Michigan has Ball State, Kent State, Buffalo and Toledo remaining in the regular season — all winnable games. Western Michigan has begun the season 8-0 for the first time since 1941, when the team also started 8-0. Wide receiver Corey Davis is currently the active leading receiver in the FBS with 4,437 yards, a title he ended the 2015 season with. He is currently the all-time MAC receiving record and 568 yards away from the all-time FBS receiving record. Davis leads the FBS in receiving TDs with 11 after scoring two more last week at Akron. The Broncos are second in the country in turnover margin at +12. They were the last team in the country to commit a turnover.

Western Michigan currently has a 10-game winning streak dating back to last season. The Broncos' streak is the longest at WMU since 1940-41 when the team also won 10 straight over the two-year span.

Why Bet on Ball State?

This is the first time a ranked team has visited Scheumann Stadium since 2003. Ball State is trying to pull itself out of the West Division basement with what would be the biggest upset of the MAC season. Sophomore RB James Gilbert has rushed for at least 100 yards in four consecutive games. He needs 13 more rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the season. Gilbert leads the league with 11 rushing touchdowns and has found the end zone nine times the last four games. If Ball State wants to make this game competitive, the run defense must play better than its No. 7 conference ranking (153.2 yards rushing allowed per game).

Ball State leads the MAC and ranks third nationally in fewest penalty yards per game (30.4) and fourth in fewest penalties per game (3.5). The Cardinals have stopped 11 of 15 fourth down attempts by the opposition this season. Ball State leads the MAC and ranks sixth nationally in fourth down conversion defense (26.7 percent).

Ball State leads the series with WMU at home 11-10. But Western has won two straight meetings and leads the all-time series, 23-19

My Betting Pick

Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Ball State.
Road team is 8-3 ATS in their last 11 meetings.

Western will win but that’s too many points to give in NCAA odds so go Cardinals.