The Ball State Cardinals excelled during the shortened 2020 season that featured a conference-only schedule, winning five of their six games to finish atop the West Division and earn a spot in the Mid-American championship game. They went on to capture the sixth MAC title in school history with a 38-28 triumph over the Buffalo Bulls. Ball State (5-6, 3-4) looks to end 2021 at .500 during conference play when it hosts Buffalo (4-7, 2-5) in a MACtion showdown on Tuesday.
Kickoff at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Ind. is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Cardinals are 6.5-point favorites in the latest Ball State vs. Buffalo odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 59.5. Before locking in any Buffalo vs. Ball State picks or MACtion predictions, you need to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection 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 $3,700 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters Week 13 of the 2021 season on a 39-25 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. Buffalo 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 Buffalo vs. Ball State:
- Ball State vs. Buffalo spread: Cardinals -6.5
- Ball State vs. Buffalo over-under: 59.5 points
- Ball State vs. Buffalo money line: Cardinals -250, Bulls +205
- BSU: The Cardinals are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games following a loss
- BUF: The Bulls are 1-5 ATS in their last six road contests
Why Ball State can cover
The Cardinals have averaged 189 rushing yards over their last five games and hope to continue their success on Tuesday as they face one of the worst defenses against the run in the MAC. Buffalo ranks 10th in the 12-team conference with an average of 208 yards allowed on the ground after surrendering 308 in its overtime loss to Northern Illinois last week. The Bulls have given up 200 or more rushing yards in five of their last six contests.
That is good news for Carson Steele, who has been strong for the Cardinals down the stretch. The freshman has eclipsed the 100-yard plateau in three of his last five games, falling seven yards shy of the mark in last week's loss to Central Michigan. Ball State will be even more dangerous if Justin Hall returns from a one-game absence due to an undisclosed injury, as the senior wideout leads the team with 606 receiving yards and is third in rushing with 255 while tying Steele for most touchdowns on the ground with six, giving him a season total of 12 TDs (five receiving, one kickoff return).
Why Buffalo can cover
It has been nearly impossible to contain Dylan McDuffie of late, as the junior running back has rushed for a touchdown in six straight games and eclipsed the 100-yard mark in four of his last five outings. McDuffie's TD streak is tied for the longest by a Bull since James Starks ran into the end zone in nine consecutive contests during the 2008 season. He also is 18 yards shy of becoming the 14th Buffalo player to gain 1,000 in a campaign.
The Bulls, who lead the MAC with 35 sacks, will be looking to help a few other players reach important marks. Senior running back Kevin Marks Jr. needs one rushing touchdown to tie Starks (34) for second on the school's all-time list and 73 yards to pass Anthony Swan (3,103) for fourth in school history. With 61 receptions, senior wideout Quian Williams is three away from surpassing Naaman Roosevelt (2007) and Matt Weiser (2015) for ninth place on Buffalo's single-season list.
How to make Buffalo 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 well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only get the model's picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Ball State vs. Buffalo? And which side of the spread hits well 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.
