Ball State Cardinals vs Eastern Michigan Eagles Prediction, 10/7/2023 College Football Picks, Best Bets & Odds

Game: Ball State Cardinals vs Eastern Michigan Eagles

Date: Saturday, October 7, 2023

Location: Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti, MI

TV: ESPN+

Odds/Point Spread: Eagles (-2)

Total/Over-Under: 45

The Ball State Cardinals (1-4) are traveling to Rynearson Stadium on Saturday, October 7, 2023 where they will try to beat the Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-3). Eastern Michigan opens this game as 2-point favorites. The total has been set at 45.

The Ball State Cardinals step onto the field holding a record of 1-4 for this season. In their last game, the Cardinals faced the Western Michigan Broncos and took a loss by a final of 42-24. Layne Hatcher went 26/37 with 316 yards through the air and 3 TDs. He had a quarterback rate of 168.8 and finished the game without throwing an interception. Marquez Cooper led the offense in rushing for the Cardinals with 15 totes for 82 yds (5.5 yds per carry). The Ball State Cardinals ended up rushing 26 different times and totaled 48 yds, which had them averaging 1.8 yds per carry. On the day, they had 63 plays which converted into 364 yards. Ball State surrendered 24 pass completions on 39 tries for a total of 328 yards, and a completion percentage of 61.5%. On the ground, the Cardinals conceded 133 yards on 36 tries, which calculates to 3.7 yds per run allowed.

The Cardinals have racked up 1,505 yards in total over the course of this season. In terms of scoring touchdowns, Ball State has totaled 6 passing touchdowns and 4 touchdowns on the ground. They have surrendered the ball 9 different times. Ball State has a total of 86 1st downs as a team, and they have been hurt by 24 infractions for 220 yards. As a team they're averaging 104.4 yards in the run game which ranks them 117th in the country. Concerning putting the ball in the endzone, the Ball State Cardinals are averaging 17.8 points per game.

The Cardinals sit in 123rd in Division 1 concerning team defense, allowing 35.6 points per game. They are giving up an average of 4.3 yards per running attempt and 123.2 rushing yards per contest for the campaign. In total, they have conceded 616 rushing yards through 5 contests. Regarding yards through the air, the Cardinals have given up 1,376 yards which puts them in 118th in the country. They are conceding 275.2 yards per outing via the pass and allowed a completion percentage of 63.8%. For the year, they have surrendered 398.4 yards per contest which has them ranked 96th in college football. They have granted 11 touchdowns via the pass as well as 8 touchdowns pounding the rock.

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The Eagles head into this game 2-3 for this season. The last time they took the field, the Eagles took a loss by a score of 26-23 against the Central Michigan Chippewas. Austin Smith ran the football 19 times for 71 yds, finishing the game with 3.7 yds per attempt for Eastern Michigan. Austin Smith (1 touchdown) finished the game with 186 yards on 20/26 passing while his quarterback rating was 149.7. He didn't throw any interceptions and his average yards per pass attempt was 7.2. Eastern Michigan surrendered 27 attempts on the ground for 193 yards (7.1 yds per rush). The Eagles pass defense gave up a completion rate of 73.1%, relinquishing 218 yds on 19 for 26 passing. The Eagles finished with 341 yards while running 64 plays (5.3 yds per play). Eastern Michigan rushed for 4.1 yds per attempt, finishing the game with 155 yds on 38 carries.

When it comes to how much they score, the Eagles sit 130th in the country scoring 16.2 PPG. The Eastern Michigan Eagles average 260.2 yards/outing, ranking them 131st in Division 1. The Eastern Michigan offense has 324 yds of penalties on 32 violations, which has them ranked 57th in the country in terms of giving up free yards. They have thrown 5 interceptions while surrendering 1 fumble and they have earned 70 1st downs. Over the course of the season to this point, the Eagles have compiled 684 yards through the air along with holding an average of 136.8 passing yards per game, which ranks 130th in the country. They are averaging 123.4 yards per game via the ground game and have run for 617 yards for the year.

The Eagles are allowing 22.4 points per contest, which has them ranked 48th in the country. Eastern Michigan has surrendered a total of 1,112 yards via the ground game (222.4 yards per game) and 8 touchdowns via the rush this season. This season, they have given up 112 total points. They have surrendered 5 touchdowns via the pass as well as 192.4 yards per contest, which puts them in 29th in Division 1. The Eagles defense has been on the field for 348 plays, which ranks 106th in Division 1. Their defense has totaled 2 fumbles recovered and 5 interceptions on the season.

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

Tony's Pick: Take the Cardinals +2

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