Week 2: Ball State vs Western Michigan 9/10/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds
Western Michigan Broncos (0-1) vs. Ball State Cardinals (0-1)
September 10, 2022 2:00 pm EDT
The Line: Ball State Cardinals +6.5 / Western Michigan Broncos -6.5 ; Over/Under: 57
(Get latest betting odds)
The Ball State Cardinals and Western Michigan Broncos square off Saturday in week 2 college football action from Scheumann Stadium. Western Michigan is coming off an opener versus Michigan State. In that matchup the Broncos fell in a blowout. As for Ball State, they played Tennessee in their first game. The Cardinals ended up falling by a large margin as well. Check back all season long for free college football picks at Sports Chat Place.
Western Michigan did very well outside of the conference last season, going 8-5 overall and 4-4 in MAC play. That result left the Broncos in last place in the West Division, but they did earn an invite to the Quick Lane Bowl, where they took out Nevada 52-24.
In the opener game versus Michigan State, the Broncos were down 21-13 heading into the fourth quarter but couldn’t get it any closer in a 35-13 loss. QB Jack Salopek put up 193 yards, and Sean Tyler led the rush on 13 carries for 68 yards and one TD.
Over on the Ball State side, they logged a sketchy 6-7 record overall last year and likewise went 4-4 in the conference. The Cardinals finished in fourth place in the West Division and earned a spot in the Camellia Bowl. Ball State lost that one 51-20 to Georgia State.
Matched up versus Tennessee last week, the Cardinals were drilled 38-0 in the first half alone during a 59-10 blowout loss. QB John Paddock put up 269 yards with one TD and two picks, while Jayshon Jackson caught five balls for 65 yards.
PICK: I’m staying with Western Michigan. Considering the fact that they were going up against one of the top-ranked squads in the nation, the Broncos didn’t perform too badly in their opener versus Michigan State. Western Michigan finished with 334 total yards, 19 first downwind 8-of-21 on third- and fourth-down tries. The eight penalties and two lost fumbles certainly didn’t help, though. If Western Michigan can put together another performance like that, the scoreboard should look vastly different against more realistic competition in this matchup.
