Western Michigan hung on for a 24-17 win in Buffalo last weekend to extend the football team’s win streak to four games. The Broncos sit atop the Mid-American Conference’s West Division standings as they head home to host Ball State.
The Cardinals snatched a late 30-27 victory from the Broncos last December, with the win sending Ball State to the MAC championship game.
Will Western get revenge, or will Ball State snag an upset on the road?
Western Michigan vs. Ball State: NCAA Football Odds
Broncos open up as double-digit favorites
Michigan online sportsbooks were giving the visiting Cardinals 10.5 to 11 points as of late Tuesday afternoon. BetMGM Sportsbook and PointsBet Sportsbook gave 11, and FanDuel Sportsbook was among the sites giving 10.5 points.
On the moneyline, FanDuel and PointsBet set Ball State at +330. Western was -450 at FanDuel and -440 at PointsBet.
BetMGM gave Ball State +310 and Western -400.
All three sportsbooks gave an over/under of 57.5. Western Michigan has combined with opponents to score more than 57.5 twice this season. Ball State’s matchups have hit the over once this season.
Use our real-time odds ticker above for the latest odds on both sides of this conference matchup.
How to watch: Ball State Cardinals at Western Michigan Broncos
- Who: Ball State (2-3, 0-1 MAC) at Western Michigan (4-1, 1-0)
- When: 3:30 p.m., ET, Saturday
- Where: Waldo Stadium, Kalamazoo, Mich.
- TV: ESPNU (Announcers: John Schriffen, Rene Ingoglia)
- Radio: Bronco Radio Network
Broncos rolling into rematch with Cardinals
Western Michigan head coach Tim Lester returned for the win at Buffalo after being sidelined since Sept. 18 by a breakthrough COVID-19 case.
After each team scored a touchdown apiece early in the MAC conference opener, the score stayed tied at 7-all until the the third quarter, when Buffalo went ahead by a field goal.
Western Michigan punter Nick Mihalic, who replaced kicker Parker Sampson after Sampson missed two field goals, hit a 26-yard field goal to tie the game at 10-all in the fourth quarter.
Kaleb Eleby was 21-of-33 for 279 yards and two touchdowns — including a 64-yarder to Skyy Moore to take the lead with just under 10 minutes to play.
Moore finished with 11 catches for 163 yards and two touchdowns. La’Darius Jefferson had 23 carries for 96 yards and a touchdown. Western piled up 457 yards on offense.
Ball State snaps losing streak
Ball State scored 21 points in the first quarter in its 28-16 win over Army last weekend, ending a three-game slide for the Cardinals.
Senior quarterback Drew Plitt was 17-of-28 for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Yo’Heinz Tyler had 85 receiving yards and a score on five receptions.
Ball State opened the game with a 99-yard kick return for touchdown from junior running back Jayshon Jackson, who also had a receiving touchdown and three catches for 58 yards.
Western Michigan has slight edge in Ball State series
Ball State has the last win in this back-and-forth series that has Western at 26 wins and Ball State at 21. Last year’s game had a wild ending — remember all those laterals? — with Ball State squeaking by with a 30-27 win.
Western will look to avenge that heartbreak this Saturday at home.
