The Ball State Cardinals and Eastern Michigan Eagles meet Saturday in week 6 college football action at Rynearson Stadium. Let’s preview this game and give out a pick and prediction.

Ball State Cardinals Betting Preview 

The Ball State Cardinals need a win to rebound from a rough 1-4 start to the season. Ball State has lost 5 straight road games. Kadin Semonza is completing 61 percent of his passes for 480 yards, 3 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Qian Magwood and Tanner Koziol have combined for 410 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, while Ahmad Edwards has 10 receptions. The Ball State Cardinals ground game is averaging 104.4 yards per contest, and Marquez Cooper leads the way with 316 yards and 1 touchdown. Defensively, Ball State is allowing 35.6 points and 399 yards per game. Cole Pearce leads the Ball State Cardinals with 32 tackles, Sidney Houston Jr. has 2.5 sacks and Tyler Potts has 2 interceptions.

Ball State Cardinals Team Facts

Ball State has won each of its last six October games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
Ball State has covered the spread in each of its last six October games as an underdog against non-AP-ranked teams.
Ball State has lost the first half in three of its last four games against conference opponents at Rynearson Stadium.
Six of Ball State’s last seven games against conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.

Eastern Michigan Eagles Betting Preview 

The Eastern Michigan Eagles look for their third home win to get back to a .500 record. Eastern Michigan has won 5 of its last 8 home games. Austin Smith is completing 60.4 percent of his passes for 642 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Tanner Knue and JB Mitchell III have combined for 290 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, while Blake Daniels has 9 receptions. The Eastern Michigan Eagles ground game is averaging 123.4 yards per contest, and Jaylon Jackson leads the way with 258 yards and 1 touchdown. Defensively, Eastern Michigan is allowing 22.4 points and 414.8 yards per game. Joe Sparacio leads the Eastern Michigan Eagles with 60 tackles, Mikah Coleman has 3 sacks and Bennett Walker has 3 interceptions.

Eastern Michigan Eagles Team Facts

The home team has won each of Eastern Michigan’s last five games.
The underdog has covered the spread in each of Eastern Michigan’s last 10 games at Rynearson Stadium.
Eastern Michigan has won the first quarter in three of its last four home games against conference opponents.
Each of Eastern Michigan’s last four October games as a home favorite against non-AP-ranked teams have gone UNDER the total points line.

Matchup/League Facts

Eastern Michigan ranked T16th among FBS teams for H1 win percentage last season (.692).
Eastern Michigan was one of only 17 FBS teams with a better road winning percentage (.833) than home winning percentage (.500) last season (min. 8 games).
Ball State was one of only six FBS teams to win 3+ games when trailing after Q3 last season.
Ball State was one of only eight FBS teams to lose 3+ games when leading after Q3 last season.

Randy’s Pick

These are two bottom feeding MAC teams that have shown little promise on either of the ball this season, so I’m not excited to get involved here. However, the difference is Eastern Michigan at least puts in effort defensively and is at home. Ball State is not only 127th in total offense and 125th in scoring offense, but is 123rd in scoring defense. One could argue the Ball State Cardinals are the worst team in the country. Give me Eastern Michigan and the small chalk.