Earning a win and covering the posted spread will be the goals for Ball State when they take on the Bobcats on Saturday in college hoops betting action.

Supporters of the Cardinals have watched them go 12-6 and 5-7-1 ATS on the year, while the Bobcats are at 16-4 and 8-5 ATS. In totals betting, the Bobcats are 5-8, while the Cardinals have a 5-8 mark.



View Ball State vs Ohio Odds and Stats.

Betting Line:
Bettors looking to side with Ohio in this one will find them as 9-point favorites.

Power Rankings / Prediction:
According to new college basketball power rankings here, it's the No. 83-ranked Bobcats and the No. 162-rated Cardinals in this matchup. Computer formulas aimed at predicting NCAAB scores point to a 74-72 win for the Bobcats on Saturday.



How They Match Up:
The game also pits Ohio's No. 115-ranked offense, averaging 71.4 PPG, against a Cardinals defense that ranks No. 17 at 58.8 PPG. The Bobcats field goal percentage has averaged 43% so far, less than the Cardinals marksmen have achieved on the year, 44% per game.

Defensively, Ball State features the nation's No. 21-rated defense on the road, allowing 60.7 points per game. Ohio, meanwhile, comes in at No. 153 nationally in scoring at home.

Last time out for Ball State, they were a 70-58 loser as they battled Akron at home. They failed to cover in the match as a 2-point favorite. Jarrod Jones scored 25 points for Ball State on Tuesday, but the Zips managed a 70-58 victory over the Cardinals at Worthen Arena.

Ohio won its last outing, a 56-51 result against Western Michigan on January 25. They failed to cover in that game as a 10-point favorite. D.J. Cooper scored 18 points leading the Bobcats to a 56-51 victory over Western Michigan at Ohio University Convocation Center on Wednesday.


Ball State Cardinals Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 4-6
Before playing Buffalo are 3-7
After playing Akron are 5-5
After a loss are 7-3

Ohio Bobcats Trends:
When playing on Saturday are 0-10
Before playing Northern Illinois are 7-3
After playing Western Michigan are 5-5
After a win are 8-2

A few Cardinals at Bobcats trends to consider:
Ball State is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Ball State is 2-6-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing on the road against Ohio
Ball State is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Ball State is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Ohio
Ohio is 17-1 SU in its last 18 games at home
Ohio is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Ball State
Ohio is 13-3 SU in its last 16 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Ohio's last 6 games


Next up:
Ball State at Buffalo, Wednesday, February 1
Ohio at Northern Illinois, Wednesday, February 1