Buffalo at Ball State College Football Picks & Predictions 11/17/2017

Thursday, November 16, 2017

Scheumann Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Buffalo Bulls head to Scheumann Stadium to play the Ball State Cardinals on Thursday, November 16, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Buffalo as 18 point favorites. The Bulls are 8-2-0 against the spread and their over/under record is 4-6-0. The Cardinals are 3-7-0 against the spread and their over/under mark is 7-3-0.

Valuable Buffalo Bulls Betting Trends

The Buffalo Bulls are 4-6-0 against the over/under

The Buffalo Bulls are 8-2-0 against the spread

Important Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends

The Ball State Cardinals are 7-3-0 against the over/under

The Ball State Cardinals are 3-7-0 against the spread

Key Buffalo Bulls Injuries

10/27/17 QB Drew Anderson Shoulder is out for season
10/25/17 RB Johnathan Hawkins Undisclosed is out for season

Key Ball State Cardinals Injuries

11/12/17 WR Jordan Hogue Back is "?" Thursday vs. Buffalo U
11/05/17 OL Kaleb Slaven Foot is out for season
10/29/17 QB Zack Blair Ankle is out for season
10/18/17 RB James Gilbert Hand is out for season
10/01/17 QB Riley Neal Leg is out for season
09/26/17 WR Corey Lacanaria Collarbone out indefinitely
09/14/17 OL Alex Joss ACL out indefinitely

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Buffalo Bulls are 76th in the country in points scored with 271. They have run 705 plays this year for 4,268 yards, which ranks them 24th in Division 1 in total offense. The Bulls average 6.1 yards per play, which is 37th in the nation. As a team they have accumulated a total of 209 1st downs this season, ranking them 59th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Buffalo has run for 1,422 yards as a unit, which ranks 87th in college football. They've run 363 times, averaging 3.9 yards per rush as a unit. The Bulls have been penalized on offense 58 times for 511 yards so far this year, which has them 74th in the country in penalties. Tyree Jackson has passed for 1,452 yards this year. He's completed 108 throws while attempting 179 passes for a completion percentage of 60.3%. His quarterback rating this season is 137.3. He averages 8.3 adjusted yards per throw and 8.1 yards per pass attempt.

Defensive Statistics

Buffalo is 55th in the country in points surrendered on defense with 250. They have given up a total of 4,022 yards on D, which is 75th in D-1. The Bulls are 56th in yards per play allowed with 5.5. Opponent offenses have completed 169 throws on 277 attempts against the Buffalo Bulls defense this season, ranking them 47th and 26th in the nation. The Buffalo pass defense has also surrendered a total of 2,032 yards in the air, which is 47th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense has given up 454 attempts for 1,990 yards this season, putting them in 103rd place in the country against the run. The Bulls have had 62 penalties for 603 yards on defense this year. That places them 88th in college football.

Special Teams Stats

Buffalo is 73rd in the country in punt returns with 13. They've totaled 97 punt return yards and average 7.5 yards per return, which is 61st in D-1. They have returned 28 kicks for 469 yards on special teams, which puts them 103rd in kick return yardage. The Bulls average 17 yards per kick return and they are 51st in the nation in all-purpose yards with 4,834. The Buffalo Bulls have tried 20 field goals this year and made 12, which is 50th in college football. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 60%. Buffalo Bulls kickers have made 94% of their extra points, going 29 for 31 this season. Their punters have accumulated 1,984 yards on 48 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That ranks them 80th in the NCAA in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Cardinals have run for 1,417 yards as a team, which ranks 88th in college football. They've run 401 times, averaging 3.5 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Ball State Cardinals have been penalized on offense 41 times for 414 yards so far this season, which has them 120th in the country in penalties. They are 120th in the nation in points scored with 184. They have run 748 plays this season for 3,302 yards, which ranks them 92nd in Division 1 in total offense. Ball State averages 4.4 yards per play, which is 126th in college football. As a team they have accumulated a total of 184 1st downs this year, placing them 103rd overall as an offensive unit. Drew Plitt averages 5.1 yards per pass attempt and 5.4 adjusted yards per throw. He has completed 35 passes on 69 attempts for a completion percentage of 50.7%. His quarterback rating this year is 105.4. He has thrown for 355 yards this season.

Defensive Statistics

The Ball State Cardinals rush defense has allowed 379 attempts for 1,916 yards this year, putting them in 97th place in D-1 against the run. Ball State has committed 42 penalties for 416 yards on the defensive side of the ball this season. That ranks them 22nd in college football. They are 126th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 420. They have surrendered a total of 4,221 yards on D, which is 93rd in the country. The Cardinals are ranked 119th in yards per play allowed with 6.6. Opposing offenses have completed 155 passes on 261 attempts against the Ball State defense this season, placing them 22nd and 18th in Division 1. The Ball State Cardinals pass defense has also given up a total of 2,305 yards through the air, which is 74th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Ball State Cardinals have attempted 14 field goals this season and made 8, which is 95th in D-1. Their kickers have a field goal percentage of 57%. Ball State kickers have made 96% of their extra points, going 22 for 23 this year. Their punters have totaled 2,234 yards on 62 punts, averaging 36 yards per punt. That places them 128th in Division 1 in punting average. Ball State is ranked 113th in the nation in punt returns with 8. They've accumulated 87 punt return yards and average 10.9 yards per return, which is 28th in college football. They have returned 43 kicks for 958 yards on special teams, ranking 3rd in kick return yardage. The Ball State Cardinals average 22 yards per kick return and they are 99th in the country in all-purpose yards with 4,347.

Who will win tonight's Bulls/Cardinals college football game against the spread?

Josh's Pick: Take the Cardinals +18

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