CFB Today: Western Michigan vs Ball State 10/9/21 NCAA Football Picks & Predictions
Ball State Cardinals (2-3) vs. Western Michigan Broncos (4-1)
October 9, 2021 3:30 pm EDT
The Line: Western Michigan Broncos -11 / Ball State Cardinals +11; Over/Under: 57
(Get latest betting odds)
The Western Michigan Broncos meet the Ball State Cardinals Saturday in MAC college football week 6 action at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo. The Ball State Cardinals need a win to get back to a .500 record. The Western Michigan Broncos look to build on their four-game winning streak.
The Ball State Cardinals have lost three of their last five road games. Drew Plitt is completing 61.1 percent of his passes for 847 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. Justin Hall and Jayshon Jackson have combined for 608 receiving yards and three touchdowns while Yo’Heinz Tyler has 14 receptions. The Ball State Cardinals ground game is averaging 112.8 yards per contest, and Carson Steele leads the way with 200 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Ball State is allowing 29.6 points and 406.2 yards per game. Jaylin Thomas leads the Ball State Cardinals with 41 tackles, Tavion Woodard has 4.5 sacks and Nic Jones has one interception.
The Western Michigan Broncos have won four of their last five home games. Kaleb Eleby is completing 62.7 percent of his passes for 1,181 yards, nine touchdowns and zero interceptions. Skyy Moore and Corey Crooms have combined for 790 receiving yards and six touchdowns while Jaylen Hall has 14 receptions. The Western Michigan Broncos ground game is averaging 167.4 yards per contest, and La’Darius Jefferson leads the way with 370 yards and seven touchdowns. Defensively, Western Michigan is allowing 21.6 points and 299.8 yards per game. Corvin Moment leads the Western Michigan Broncos with 29 tackles, Ali Fayad has four sacks and Bricen Garner has one interception.
The Cardinals are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 conference games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Broncos are 9-3-1 ATS in their last 13 home games and 3-0-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The under is 7-1 in Cardinals last 8 games overall. The under is 5-1 in Broncos last 6 games overall. The Cardinals are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings in Western Michigan.
The Ball State Cardinals have covered five of their last six games as a double-digit underdog, but they’re one of the worst offensive teams in the country and their defense can’t stop the run. Ball State 121st in total offense and 114th in scoring offense. The Western Michigan Broncos are riding a solid four-game winning streak, which includes road wins over Pittsburgh and Buffalo, and they’re quietly one of the most balanced teams in the MAC. Western Michigan is a top-25 team in total defense. I’ll back Western Michigan at home.
