Ball State Cardinals vs Ohio Bobcats Point Spread Picks

Combine the Bobcats (-901), the Blue Demons (-1250), the Colonials (-3333), and the Cavaliers (-2500) into a 4-team parlay at -351 odds.

Plenty is at stake in the MAC so expect to see some hard-hitting defense. Ohio is in first place in the MAC East while Ball State is behind Toledo in the MAC West and has a 5-5 overall record with a winning season and a bowl at stake. Ohio has won five in a row with the defense allowing an average of 22 points in those victories. Ohio is 35-20 UNDER the total on the road after playing a game that went OVER. Ball State is fourth in the MAC defensively in points allowed while on a 7-1 run UNDER the total, part of a 16-7 run UNDER. Ball State is allowing 23.2 points per game at home this season and one was in double-overtime. Ball State's offense is just eighth in the 12-team MAC in scoring (24.4 ppg) behind QB John Paddock (16 TDs, 11 INTs). And Ball State is on a 9-2 run UNDER the total at home. Play Ohio/Ball State UNDER the total.

Ohio heads out on the road with a bad defense, at #91 in points allowed (32.5 pg), #115 in yards surrendering 474.2 yards per contest. They have also failed to cover four straight conference games. The Bobcats are 21-9-1 UNDER the total after scoring 40+ points in their previous game, plus 29-14-3 UNDER after getting 200+ yards rushing in their previous game. They head to Ball State, a team with a winning record overall, as well as at home. Ball State is clicking, winning three in a row, and twice as an underdog. Ball State just shut down Toledo the last game allowing 14 points and the Cardinals are 19-9 UNDER the total when following a spread cover. The home team has covered five of the last six meetings, so back home field in a defensive duel. Play Ball State as a Max Play and also take the UNDER.

Mike Neu brought back nine starters on offense, including his quarterback, and it appeared that Ball State would take a major leap forward on that side of the ball. They have improved but are still a sub-par offense at 25 points per game. The bigger problem is their seven games vs. FBS competition shows them at 24 or fewer points in six of the seven. If that holds, it would mean Western Michigan would have to put up 40+ against the Cardinals to get this one over the top, and the Cardinals have allowed only one opponent all season to do that. If you then add in the extra intensity of a Thursday Night game, which has delivered 55.4% to the UNDER in a 280+ game sample, this one is not making it. Play on the UNDER.