Ball State vs Eastern Michigan Picks Against the Spread

Saturday, October 12, 2019

Rynearson Stadium

Mike Glass III and the Eastern Michigan Eagles host the Ball State Cardinals at Rynearson Stadium on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Eastern Michigan opens this matchup as 2-point dogs. The Cardinals are 3-2-0 ATS and 2-3-0 when betting on the total. The Eagles are 3-1-1 when wagering on the over/under and 2-3-0 against the spread.

Key Ball State Cardinals Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Eastern Michigan Eagles Injuries

No key injuries to report

In their last contest, the Ball State Cardinals played the NIU Huskies and ended up getting the victory by a score of 27-20. Taking the lead at quarterback for the Cardinals was Drew Plitt who went 4/14 with 34 yards through the air but wasn't able to get any balls in the endzone via the pass. He threw 1 pick on the day. Caleb Huntley paced the team on the ground for the game. He had a long run of 45 yards and he added 2 touchdowns in the game. He racked up a total of 157 yards via 35 carries which meant he averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Riley Miller was the receiving yardage leader by earning 15 yards on 1 catch. He earned an average of 15.0 yards per catch for the game. The Cardinals ended up running the ball 60 times and added 235 yards which gave them an average of 3.9 yards per rushing attempt. In the game, the Cardinals racked up a total of 20 first downs and they had 4 penalties for 35 yards which is telling of how their week of practice went. In the game, they ran 74 plays for 269 yards. When it comes to their defensive performance, Ball State gave up 21 catches on 43 tries for a total of 241 yards, and a completion percentage of 48.8%. On the ground, the Cardinals gave up 148 yards on 30 tries which means they allowed 4.9 yards per run allowed. For the game, they conceded a total of 389 yards and forced 3 takeaways.

The Cardinals come into this game with a record of 2-3 this season. They are one of the most potent offenses in the country with an average of 32.4 points per game, putting them 52nd in Division 1. As a unit, they have an average of 148 rushing yards per game which is 8th in the conference. For total yards, they currently sit at 5th in the MAC and 63rd in Division 1 with 2,152 yards. The Cardinals have one of the most lackluster defenses in the country, allowing 31.6 points per contest which has them at 7th in the MAC. When it comes to yards through the air, the Cardinals have allowed 1,412 yards. Teams are completing 60.3% of the passes they throw against them and averaging 6.9 yards per try. In discussing yards on the ground, Ball State is giving up 149.2 yards per contest putting them 3rd in the conference and 62nd in Division 1. Opposing teams are running for an average of 4.1 yards per carry which has them at 3rd in the MAC and 66th in Division 1 overall. Overall, they have allowed 746 yards rushing through 5 contests.

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The last time they played, the Eastern Michigan Eagles went up against the Central Michigan Chippewas and were beaten 42-16. Running the show from under center for the Eagles was Mike Glass III who went 19/33 with 193 yards through the air and threw 1 TD. He tossed 1 interception on the day. Willie Parker paced the team on the ground for the game. He broke a long run for 26 yards but he wasn't able to rush for a TD on the day. He rushed for a total of 43 yards via 8 carries which gave him an average of 5.4 yards per tote. Mathew Sexton led the team in receiving yardage by racking up 42 yards on 4 catches. He notched an average of 10.5 yards per catch for the game. The Eagles ended up rushing 28 times and racked up 77 yards which gave them an average of 2.8 yards per run. In the game, the Eagles racked up a total of 21 first downs and they had 5 penalties for 57 yards which tells us that they had an average outing in terms of discipline. Overall, they ran 66 plays for 285 yards. When discussing the defense, Eastern Michigan allowed 15 catches on 24 throws for a total of 279 yards, and a completion percentage of 62.5%. Against the run, the Eagles allowed 308 yards on 45 carries which gave them an average of 6.8 yards per attempt allowed. For this contest, they conceded a total of 587 yards and earned 2 takeaways.

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The Eagles step onto the field holding a record of 3-2. Eastern Michigan needs to do more to make teams respect their running game by averaging 97.4 rushing yards per game, which has them at 125th in the country. As a unit, they have compiled a total of 487 yards rushing through 5 contests, so they are going to want to make some changes to the ground game if they want to make teams respect them. The Eagles average 363 yards per contest overall putting them 99th in college football and 8th in the MAC. The Eagles are conceding 32.6 points per contest which puts them at 8th in the MAC and 109th in D-1. Their passing defense is one of the middle of the road units in college football. They are conceding 266.6 passing yards per contest. For yards through the air allowed per game, the Eagles are ranked 10th in the Mid-American Conference. When it comes to points given up, they have given up 163 total points. In discussing yards on the ground, they are conceding 180.6 yards per contest which puts them at 94th in the country and 5th in the conference. In 2019, they have conceded 903 rushing yards and 12 rushing TDs.

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Eagles +2

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