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The all-time series between the Ball State Cardinals and Central Michigan Chippewas couldn't be any tighter, as each team has recorded 26 victories while one other contest ended in a tie. The Cardinals have won eight of the last 13 meetings overall, but the Chippewas have come away with the win in each of their last three visits to Muncie. Ball State (5-5, 3-3 Mid-American) attempts to end that streak when it hosts Central Michigan (6-4, 4-2) in a MACtion showdown on Wednesday. 

Kickoff at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Ind. is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Chippewas are 2.5-point favorites in the latest Ball State vs. Central Michigan odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under for total points scored is 57. 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: Chippewas -2.5
  • Ball State vs. Central Michigan over-under: 57 points
  • Ball State vs. Central Michigan money line: Cardinals +115, Chippewas -135
  • 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

Why Ball State can cover

The Cardinals have a tremendous double-threat in the form of wideout Justin Hall, who leads the team in receiving yards (606) and ranks third in rushing with 255 on 37 carries. The senior has used both routes to the end zone successfully as he has recorded a team-high six rushing touchdowns and is tied for the lead in TD catches with five. Hall is 15th in the nation with an average of 136.1 all-purpose yards and first on Ball State's all-time list with 5,352 for his career.

Hall has caught a pass in 53 consecutive games, one shy of the FBS record set by Bryan Anderson of Central Michigan from 2006-09. Quarterback Drew Plitt will look to get that milestone out of the way early and focus on getting the Cardinals on the scoreboard. The senior QB has thrown 13 touchdown passes and just one interception over his last seven games.

Why Central Michigan can cover

Lew Nichols III has been a beast out of the backfield for the Chippewas this season, ranking third in the nation with 1,297 rushing yards and second in all-purpose yards with 1,541. The redshirt freshman has recorded five straight 100-yard performances and is averaging 129.7 on the ground, which is third-best in the country. Nichols has notched eight of his 11 rushing touchdowns this season over his last three contests after registering four in Central Michigan's 54-30 triumph over Kent State last week.

The Chippewas' aerial attack also is doing well as the team leads the MAC with an average of 282.9 passing yards per game. Four different players have made at least 35 catches, while junior Dallas Dixon (eight) and senior JaCorey Sullivan (seven) have combined to record 15 of Central Michigan's 26 receiving touchdowns. Redshirt freshman Daniel Richardson has thrown for 2,011 yards with 19 TDs and only two interceptions this year, with 11 of his scoring passes coming in his last five contests.

How to make Central Michigan vs. Ball State picks

SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting 60 combined points. It also has generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in almost 60 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 nearly 60 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.