Ball State at Kentucky

Ball State picked up some key offensive players in the offseason. 24-year-old QB Layne Hatcher (84 touchdown passes) is aboard, a former redshirt at Alabama, and a Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. He has the MAC's best tight end to throw to in Brady Hunt, while speedy RB Marquez Cooper is on board, a talented transfer from Kent State. It's too bad the defense has to open the season on the road against the SEC. That happened one year ago and it was ugly, a 59-10 loss. Two years ago, Ball State traveled to Penn State in September and lost, 44-13. Kentucky's offensive line was hit hard by injuries last season, but they've added a pair of talented tackles in Marques Cox (Northern Illinois) and Courtland Ford (USC). QB Devin Leary steps in after transferring from NC State where he had 35 TDs and just five picks in 2021. A year ago in Week 1, Kentucky scored 37 on Miami of Ohio and in the 2021 opener whipped UL Monroe in the opener, 45-10, with 564 total yards. Take Ball State/Kentucky OVER the total.