The Kent State Golden Flashes will face off against the Ball State Cardinals in Muncie, Indiana, on Wednesday, November 5, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU. As the game approaches, Ball State enters as a slight favorite with a spread of -1.5 points and a moneyline of -125, while Kent State features as a +1.5 underdog with a moneyline sitting at +105. The over/under for the matchup is set at 47.5 points.
This clash is anticipated to be a challenging contest with both teams struggling on the offensive end. Kent State has shown weaknesses, ranking 81st nationally in EPA Per Pass and 134th in EPA Per Rush, indicating their difficulties in both passing and running the ball effectively. Conversely, Ball State’s performance has also been below average, particularly with a passing offense that ranks 126th in EPA Per Pass and a rushing attack standing at 129th.
Both defenses have a decent matchup against their counterparts, which contributes to the expectation of a low-scoring game. Kent State has faced challenges regarding field position and maintaining offensive rhythm, scoring only 31.8% of available yards and frequently finding themselves in long-yardage situations on third downs.
Injuries could further impact both teams, as Kent State reports several players questionable or out, while Ball State faces its own set of injury challenges, notably among skill positions. With both teams likely to struggle in producing sustained drives and explosive plays, bookmakers expect a low-scoring affair, leading to the recommendation of betting on the under, particularly under 47.5, with the line suggested to be played down to 45.5.
As fans prepare for this MAC showdown, viewers can catch the action live at 7 p.m. ET on ESPNU, offering an exciting opportunity to follow these two teams as they aim to turn their seasons around amidst their offensive struggles.