A couple of schools that prefer to run the football, Golden Flashes (+3.5) are gearing up to welcome their conference foe Ball State Cardinals (-3.5) to Kent State. Kickoff for this game is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. ET and fans can catch the action by tuning in to ESPN+.
Betting Preview: Ball State Cardinals vs. Kent State Golden Flashes
In this Saturday Mid-American game, Ball State is tabbed as the favorite and is currently giving up 3.5 points. The Cardinals are also receiving -175 moneyline odds while the Golden Flashes are +155. Vegas has placed the over/under (O/U) at 64.5 points, and if one squad can create a bunch of points early on, it would likely generate a worthwhile betting opportunity in-game.
Betting odds have swayed a bit from where they originally opened. The line opened at 3 and the game’s O/U was initially set at 64.
The Cardinals have lost 2.8 units so far and are 6-4 against the spread (ATS). The team has recorded an O/U mark of 5-5.
The Golden Flashes are up 1.7 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 6-4 ATS and also have an even O/U record of 5-5.
The Cardinals have gone 4-6 straight up (SU), including 3-3 SU against MAC opponents. The Golden Flashes are 4-6 SU overall and are also 3-3 SU in conference play.
The Cardinals look to get back in stride after a 45-44 loss to Central Michigan last week. Drew Plitt completed just 14 passes on 25 attempts for 268 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Caleb Huntley (106 yards on 24 rush attempts, one TD) and Walter Fletcher (115 yards on 15 carries) provided the running attack while Justin Hall (four receptions, 95 yards, two TDs) and Riley Miller (three catches, 67 yards, one TD) manned the receiving duties in the defeat.
Kent State is coming off of a 30-27 win over Buffalo. Dustin Crum completed 16-of-25 passes for 165 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Will Matthews (37 rushing yards on 11 attempts) and the signal-caller Crum (-6 yards on 11 carries) led the running game while Mike Carrigan (seven receptions, 43 yards, one TD) and Kavious Price (three catches, 23 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
In terms of offensive play-calling, each squad sports a strikingly similar (58-42) run-pass ratio on the season. Having said that, the Cardinals have produced 204.2 rush yards/game (including 256.5 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 20 scores on the ground this year. The Golden Flashes haven’t been quite as productive, as they’re averaging 165.3 rushing yards per game (206 in conference) and have nine total rush TDs.
If 2019 numbers are any indication, then it appears the Cardinals may hold an advantage in all aspects of the ground game. Their running backs has produced 4.8 yards per carry while their defense is allowing a YPC of 4.4 to opponents. The Golden Flashes have tallied 4.2 yards per carry and allowed a YPC of 5.2 to opponents.
The Cards offense has tallied 239.8 yards/game through the air overall (170 per game against conference opposition) and has 20 passing TDs so far. The Golden Flashes have put up 198.5 pass yards per contest (237 against MAC foes) and have 19 total pass scores.
Defensively, Ball State has allowed opponents to run for an average of 178.2 yards and pass for 240.4 yards per game. The Kent State defense has allowed 206.3 yards per game to opposing passers and 253.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Cards are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5.30 to opponents, while the Golden Flashes have given up a 7.48 ANY/A.
Offensively, Plitt has amassed 2,245 passing yards on the year, and has completed 64 percent of his 284 attempts with 20 passing scores and seven interceptions. Plitt’s got a 7.23 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 8.42 over the last two outings.
The Cardinals have tried to maintain the pace by feeding their running backs early and often. Justin Hall (544 yards, five TDs) has been a recent factor in the passing game, but the RB tandem of Walter Fletcher (502 rush yards, three rush TDs, 199 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Caleb Huntley (829 rush yards, six rush TDs) have been focal points in the offensive gameplans for Ball State.
Dustin Crum has completed 147-of-220 passes for 1,513 yards, 12 TDs and two INTs for Kent State. His ANY/A stands at 6.09 for the season and 8.86 across his past two games.
The Golden Flashes should also look to control the clock by turning to their backfield. Along with Kavious Price (311 receiving yards, three receiving TDs), Xavier Williams (148 rush yards, one rush TD, 77 receiving yards, one receiving TD) and Will Matthews (300 rush yards, two rush TDs) have seen a multitude of action lately.
When these two squads met a year ago, Ball State won by four touchdowns 52-24.
Ball State Cardinals at Kent State Golden Flashes Free Pick
SU Winner: Kent State, ATS Winner: Kent State, O/U: Over
Team Betting Trends
- The Cardinals offense has recorded seven pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Golden Flashes have put up eight such plays.
- The Ball State defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Kent State has given up seven such plays.
- The Ball State offense has created 19 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Kent State has created 15 such runs.
- The Cardinals defense has allowed 14 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Golden Flashes have given up 16 such runs.
- The Kent State defense has sacked opposing QBs 19 times this season. Ball State has produced just 11 sacks.
- Ball State has produced 5.9 yards per carry over its last three games and 5.5 over its last two.
- Kent State has averaged 3.4 yards per carry over its last three outings and 3.5 over its past two.
- Over its last three contests, Kent State is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Ball State’s previous game was 60. The over cashed in the team’s 45-44 defeat to Central Michigan.
- In its last three contests, Ball State is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Kent State’s last matchup was set at 54.5. The over cashed in the 30-27 triumph over Buffalo.
