The Ball State Cardinals lost four of their previous five meetings with the Central Michigan Chippewas before rolling to a 45-20 road victory last season. Ball State has dropped three straight at home to Central Michigan, including a 45-44 decision in 2019. The Cardinals (5-5, 3-3 Mid-American) look to end the slide when they host the Chippewas (6-4, 4-2) in a MACtion showdown on Wednesday. Ball State is coming off its second loss in three overall contests, a 30-29 setback at Northern Illinois in which it squandered a pair of leads over the final 2:42 of the fourth quarter.
Kickoff at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Ind. is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Cardinals are two-point favorites in the latest Ball State vs. Central Michigan odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 61. Before locking in any Central Michigan vs. Ball State picks or MACtion predictions, you need to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.
The model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,500 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 12 of the 2021 season on a 36-23 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Ball State vs. Central Michigan and locked in its MACtion picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are the odds and college football betting lines for Central Michigan vs. Ball State:
- Ball State vs. Central Michigan spread: Cardinals -2
- Ball State vs. Central Michigan over-under: 61 points
- Ball State vs. Central Michigan money line: Cardinals -125, Chippewas +105
- BSU: The Cardinals are 7-21 against the spread in their last 28 games as home favorites
- CMU: The Chippewas are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 meetings with Ball State
Featured Game | Ball State Cardinals vs. Central Michigan Chippewas
Why Ball State can cover
The Cardinals were outgained by more than 100 yards in the loss to Northern Illinois, amassing 372 while allowing 475. Ball State did have the advantage on the ground, however, as it racked up 246 yards behind Carson Steele’s third 100-yard performance in four games. The freshman gained 109 yards on 21 carries against the Huskies after setting a career high with 154 in the team’s 31-25 triumph over Akron a week earlier.
Justin Hall added 79 yards on seven rushing attempts and ran for a pair of touchdowns to take the team lead with six. The senior wideout also made three catches for 27 yards and tops the Cardinals in receiving with 59 receptions, 606 yards and five TDs. Hall ranks third on Ball State in rushing with 255 yards on 37 carries.
Why Central Michigan can cover
The Chippewas rolled past Kent State 54-30 last week for their fourth win in five contests, amassing 5-5 total yards in the process. Central Michigan outgained the Golden Flashes 221-134 on the ground as Lew Nichols III rushed for a career-high 215 yards and four touchdowns. The redshirt freshman has recorded five consecutive 100-yard performances and run for at least two scores in three straight contests.
Nichols is third in the nation with 1,297 rushing yards and hasn’t fumbled in 235 carries this season. Another redshirt freshman, Daniel Richardson completed 21-of-27 pass attempts for 268 yards and four TDs against Kent State. He has thrown 10 scoring passes over his last four games and has 19 on the season against only two interceptions.
How to make Central Michigan vs. Ball State picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the total, projecting 59 combined points. It also has generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in over 50 percent of simulations. You can only get the model’s picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Ball State vs. Central Michigan? And which side of the spread hits over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread to back, all from the advanced model that has crushed its college football picks, and find out.
