A couple of teams that prefer to focus on their running games, Head Coach Jim McElwain and the Central Michigan Chippewas (+3) are gearing up to face off against the Ball State Cardinals (-3) at Scheumann Stadium. CBS Sports Network is scheduled to televise the action and kickoff for this MAC game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. When these two teams faced one another a year ago, Ball State emerged victorious by a score of 24-23.
Betting Preview: Ball State Cardinals vs. Central Michigan Chippewas
The Chippewas come into this Saturday MAC game as the dog here and they’re currently getting 3 points. The Chippewas are also receiving +135 moneyline odds while the Cardinals are -155. Oddsmakers have placed the over/under (O/U) at 57.5 points. If the favorites fall behind in the early stages, it’ll likely create a decent live betting opportunity.
The opening line was -3. The game’s O/U hasn’t changed since it was initially set at 57.5.
The surprising Chippewas have gained 4.5 units so far in 2019 and are 7-2-1 against the spread (ATS). The team’s posted an O/U record of 8-2.
The Cardinals are down 1.6 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 6-3 ATS and have an O/U record of 4-5.
The Chippewas are 6-4 straight up (SU), including 4-2 SU against conference opponents. The Cardinals are 4-5 SU overall and 3-2 SU in conference play.
The Chippewas are coming off a resounding 48-10 win over Northern Illinois on November 2. Quinten Dormady completed 18-of-24 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns. Jonathan Ward (138 yards on 20 rushes, one TD) and Kobe Lewis (143 yards on 17 carries, one TD) provided the ground attack while Kalil Pimpleton (five receptions, 50 yards, one TD) and JaCorey Sullivan (five catches, 88 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Ball State just suffered a 35-31 defeat to Western Michigan. The defense allowed the Broncos to eat up the clock by running for 382 yards on 52 rush attempts, including five rush TDs. LeVante Bellamy was a force to be reckoned with, recording 157 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 31 attempts for Western Michigan. For Ball State, Drew Plitt completed 14-of-22 passes for 148 yards. Caleb Huntley (120 rushing yards on 18 attempts, one TD) and Walter Fletcher (72 yards on 13 carries, one TD) mounted the running game while Justin Hall (four receptions, 64 yards) and Fletcher (three catches, 27 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the loss.
Central Michigan’s run the ball on 52.8 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Ball State has an overall rush percentage of 57.1 percent. The Chippewas have run for 190 yards/game (including 209.7 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 22 scores on the ground this year. The Cards are averaging 201.2 rush yards per game (261.6 in conference) and have 18 total rushing TDs.
Judging by the numbers this season, it seems like the Chippewas might have the edge when it comes to efficiency in the ground game. Their running backs has logged 5.0 yards per carry while the defense is allowing 3.3 YPC to opponents. The Cardinals have rushed for 4.8 yards per carry and given up 4.5 yards per rush attempt to opponents.
The Chippewas offensive scheme has averaged 249.1 yards through the air overall (302 per game against conference opposition) and has 16 passing scores so far. The Cards have produced 236.7 pass yards per outing (150 against MAC foes) and have 17 total pass TDs.
Defensively, Central Michigan has allowed 111.1 rush yards and 243.4 pass yards per game. The Ball State D has allowed 227.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 182.6 yards per game on the ground. The Cards are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 5 to opposing QBs, while the Chippewas have allowed a 6.14 ANY/A.
Dormady has been more efficient than Plitt recently, as his adjusted net yards per pass attempt sits at 8.17for the season and 8.38 over the last two outings. Plitt’s ANY/A is 6.99 for the season and 5.38 across his past two outings.
Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Ball State Cardinals NCAA Pick
SU Winner: Ball State, ATS Winner: Ball State, O/U: Over
Betting Trends
- The Over/Under for Central Michigan’s last game going into it was 49. The over cashed in the team’s 48-10 win over Northern Illinois.
- As a team, Central Michigan has rushed for 5.5 yards per attempt over its past three contests and 5.1 over its last two.
- Ball State has averaged 6.9 yards per carry over its last three games and 6.4 over its past two.
- The Ball State offense has lost seven fumbles this season while Central Michigan has lost 13.
- In its last three matchups, Central Michigan is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
- Central Michigan has won five of its last six games SU, with a 23-point defeat to Buffalo on October 26th representing the only loss over that stretch.
- The Over/Under for Ball State’s last outing going into it was 65. The over cashed in the 35-31 loss to Western Michigan.
- Over its last three games, Ball State is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Chippewas offense has produced six pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Cardinals have put up five such plays.
- Both teams have allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards. The Central Michigan defense has given up 16 pass plays of 30+ yards while Ball State has permitted eight such plays.
- The Central Michigan offense has created 13 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Ball State has created 16 such runs.
- The Chippewas defense has allowed seven rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Cardinals have given up 14 such runs.
- The Central Michigan D has more than twice as many sacks as Ball State this year (21 versus 10).
