In one of the first showdowns during midweek MACtion this season, Ball State and Miami (Ohio) will be vying for one of the top spots in the conference standings.
Miami (Ohio) has certainly had an interesting journey up to this point. Going into the year as a preseason favorite to win the MAC, the RedHawks lost their first three games, all against Power Four competition. But they have won four of their last five since then and are in a tie for second place in the conference standings with a 3-1 mark against league foes.
But they’ll want to continue this upward trajectory if they want to still have a shot at defending their conference crown, and going on the road this week to take on Ball State won’t be easy. The Cardinals are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in MAC play, so they still have an opportunity to appear in the league title game or at the very least earn a bowl bid.
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Miami (Ohio) vs. Ball State Betting Odds
Miami (Ohio) is a -11.5 college football betting odds favorite against Ball State, with the Over/Under being 48.5.
The moneyline for Miami (Ohio) is -500, while it’s +360 for Ball State.
Miami (Ohio) vs. Ball State On TV
The matchup between Miami (Ohio) and Ball State will be televised on ESPN.
The game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The contest is taking place at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.
Miami (Ohio) vs. Ball State Prediction
I predict Miami (Ohio) will win but Ball State will cover the spread at +11.5. I also project the game will go Over 48.5 total points.
Listen, I don’t think Ball State is a bad team at all. The Cardinals have been in close contests all season. Except for their losses against the Miami Hurricanes and JMU, they’ve either lost by 10 or fewer points or have won. That includes their 24-14 loss at Vanderbilt a few weeks ago. They most recently beat Northern Illinois 25-23.
But I ultimately believe Miami (Ohio) is well equipped to make another run at a MAC Championship. The RedHawks have been scoring at a high clip recently, having put up 30 or more points in each of their last three games. They’re coming off a 46-7 win over Central Michigan.
I think Ball State will find a way to keep this game close at home. But I also believe Miami will put up too many points for the Cardinals to keep up.
