Events
NCAAF
Ball State
Cardinals
5 - 1
Buffalo
Bulls
5 - 0
December 18, 2020, 7:30 PM EST
 | Ford Field

Game Preview

Ball State
Cardinals
5 - 1
Buffalo
Bulls
5 - 0
December 18, 2020, 7:30 PM EST
 | Ford Field

  • Buffalo (5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS) has barely broken a sweat this season, outscoring its opponents by nearly 31 points per game and leading the nation in scoring. However, Ball State (5-1, 3-3) enters the conference championship on a five-game winning streak and has covered its last three.

    MAC Championship Game: Ball State vs Buffalo
    • Date/Time: December 18, 7:30 p.m. ET
    • Stadium: Ford Field
    • TV Coverage: ESPN
    • Sportsbook Odds: Buffalo -12 | O/U 67 (Line History)
    • Ball State vs Buffalo Matchup Report

    Sportsbook Odds Analysis

    Despite its impressive average margin of victory this year, Buffalo has been favored by 15 points or less in four of its last six contests. This total is the second-highest the Bulls have seen this season, although two of Ball State’s last three games had an OVER/UNDER of 67 or higher.

    Ball State News & Notes

    Led by Justin Hall’s 10 catches, 175 receiving yards and two touchdowns, the Cardinals clinched their first trip to the MAC title game in 12 years with last week’s come-from-behind 30-27 win over Western Michigan.

    Hall, Ball State’s all-time leader in receptions, caught a 55-yard touchdown pass to tie the game midway through the fourth quarter before the Cardinals won it on a late field goal by Jack Knight.

    The victory didn’t come without a scare. Western Michigan appeared to win the game with a series of laterals on the final play, but referees ruled that one of the Mustangs’ laterals was an illegal forward pass. That set off a monstrous celebration on the Cardinals’ sideline, and the dramatic victory might leave Ball State vulnerable for an emotional letdown this week.

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    Ball State has won five straight games since starting the season with a 38-31 loss at Miami (Ohio) and is on a 3-0 ATS run after failing to cover its first three outings.

    Although the Cardinals defense ranks 90th in yards allowed and 119th against the pass, they haven’t allowed more than 27 points since their second game of the season. Ball State allowed nearly 500 yards against Western Michigan but didn’t yield a touchdown in any of the Mustangs’ three trips inside the red zone.

    Buffalo News & Notes

    The Bulls have literally run over their opponents this season, averaging a nation-high 344.2 yards per game on the ground and leading the FBS with an average of 51.8 points per game.

    Jaret Patterson and Kevin Marks both eclipsed the century mark in rushing yards in Buffalo’s season-ending 52-7 rout of Akron last weekend, when the Bulls ran for 428 yards. Patterson tied an FBS record by reaching the 1,000-yard rushing plateau in just five games, and he’s now run for 3,837 yards and 51 touchdowns in three seasons at Buffalo.

    If the Bulls fall behind in this game by a couple of scores, however, don’t expect their passing game to spark a rally. Quarterback Kyle Vantrease’s 52-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Wilson in the third quarter against Akron was Buffalo’s first passing touchdown in three games, snapping a streak of 21 consecutive rushing touchdowns by the Bulls. Vantrease hasn’t thrown for more than 175 yards in any of his last three games.

    Betting Pick: OVER 67

    The Cardinals may not be able to match points with the high-scoring Bulls, but they can do enough damage through the air to contribute toward this high total. Expect the OVER to cash for the eighth time in the last nine meetings.

    Shark Bites
    • Ball State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games.
    • Buffalo is 7-1 ATS in its last 8 games.
    • The OVER is 7-1 in the last eight meetings.
Back to Matchup

Odds

Friday, December 18 Fri Dec 18

Opening
Current
Ball State
vsFinal
Buffalo
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Opening
+12
-107
+353
o65.5
-107
-12
-107
-412
u65.5
-107
Spread
Moneyline
O/U
Current
+12.5
-115
+420
o70
-108
-12.5
-105
-525
u70
-112
Line History
Final

Edge Finder

23.25
 Total Score
29.00
222.50
 Passing Yards
226.58
159.75
 Rushing Yards
143.58
27:59
 Time on Field
34:40
74.75
 Number of Plays
76.75
5.16
 Yards Per Play
4.90
23.25
 Total Score
29.00
3.67
 First Quarter
5.25
6.25
 Second Quarter
11.75
7.33
 Third Quarter
5.92
5.50
 Fourth Quarter
5.83
222.50
 Passing Yards
226.58
40.08
 Pass Attempts
35.42
23.92
 Pass Completions
21.00
1.08
 Sacks
2.42
8.92
 Sack Yards
15.08
9.30
 Yards Per Pass
10.79
159.75
 Rushing Yards
143.58
34.67
 Rush Attempts
41.33
4.61
 Yards Per Rush
3.47
1.17
 Interceptions
0.67
0.92
 Fumbles
1.67
0.58
 Fumbles Lost
0.75
1.75
 Total Turnovers
1.42
6.08
 Penalties
5.75
57.58
 Penalty Yards
52.92
27:59
 Time on Field
34:40
74.75
 Number of Plays
76.75
5.16
 Yards Per Play
4.90
5.67
 Punts
4.42
40.99
 Punt Average
42.26
47.83
 Return Yards
68.83

Head To Head

BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
7-2
 Record
2-7
5-4
 ATS
4-5
7-1
 O/U
7-1
35.11
 Score
25.11
223.56
 Rush Yds
139.67
27.44
 Pass Attempts
30.44
63.97
 Completion %
58.39
220.33
 Passing Yds
219.56
443.89
 Total Yds
359.22
1.44
 Turnovers
1.56
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
2-1
 Record
1-2
1-2
 ATS
2-1
3-0
 O/U
3-0
27.67
 Score
28.67
241.33
 Rush Yds
181.67
29.00
 Pass Attempts
32.67
58.62
 Completion %
59.18
193.67
 Passing Yds
277.33
435
 Total Yds
459
1.33
 Turnovers
0.33
Nov 16/17 (1 of 9)
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
Home
Away
24
 Score
40
+17.5
 ATS
-17.5
56 o
 O/U
56 u
194
 Rush Yds
215
29
 Pass Attempts
28
51.72
 Completion %
57.14
143
 Passing Yds
350
337
 Total Yds
565
1
 Turnovers
1
Oct 15/16 (2 of 9)
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
Away
Home
31
 Score
21
-11
 ATS
+11
51.5 o
 O/U
51.5 u
356
 Rush Yds
153
22
 Pass Attempts
46
54.55
 Completion %
60.87
212
 Passing Yds
306
568
 Total Yds
459
3
 Turnovers
0
Sep 17/11 (3 of 9)
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
Home
Away
28
 Score
25
-4
 ATS
+4
51.5 o
 O/U
51.5 u
174
 Rush Yds
177
36
 Pass Attempts
24
66.67
 Completion %
58.33
226
 Passing Yds
176
400
 Total Yds
353
0
 Turnovers
0
Nov 12/10 (4 of 9)
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
Away
Home
20
 Score
3
+3
 ATS
-3
47 o
 O/U
47 u
149
 Rush Yds
88
26
 Pass Attempts
22
69.23
 Completion %
31.82
174
 Passing Yds
56
323
 Total Yds
144
0
 Turnovers
4
Dec 5/08 (5 of 9)
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
Home
Away
24
 Score
42
-15
 ATS
+15
62.5 o
 O/U
62.5 u
152
 Rush Yds
95
48
 Pass Attempts
29
64.58
 Completion %
65.52
351
 Passing Yds
206
503
 Total Yds
301
5
 Turnovers
2
Sep 29/07 (6 of 9)
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
Home
Away
49
 Score
14
-13.5
 ATS
+13.5
62.5 o
 O/U
62.5 u
274
 Rush Yds
83
29
 Pass Attempts
19
72.41
 Completion %
73.68
233
 Passing Yds
136
507
 Total Yds
219
0
 Turnovers
2
Oct 7/06 (7 of 9)
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
Away
Home
55
 Score
25
-3.5
 ATS
+3.5
49 o
 O/U
49 u
232
 Rush Yds
42
15
 Pass Attempts
44
80.00
 Completion %
68.18
262
 Passing Yds
364
494
 Total Yds
406
1
 Turnovers
3
Nov 23/02 (8 of 9)
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
Home
Away
41
 Score
21
-16
 ATS
+16
51.5 o
 O/U
51.5 u
289
 Rush Yds
152
24
 Pass Attempts
38
50.00
 Completion %
47.37
134
 Passing Yds
210
423
 Total Yds
362
1
 Turnovers
0
Oct 21/00 (9 of 9)
BALL
 Stat Type BUFF
Away
Home
44
 Score
35
-10
 ATS
+10
 O/U
192
 Rush Yds
252
18
 Pass Attempts
24
72.22
 Completion %
58.33
248
 Passing Yds
172
440
 Total Yds
424
2
 Turnovers
2

Team Records

BALL
 Record BUFF
5-1
 All
5-0
3-0
 Home
3-0
2-1
 Away
2-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
3-3
 ATS
4-1
1-2
 ATS Home
3-0
2-1
 ATS Away
1-1
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
3-3
 O/U
4-1
1-2
 O/U Home
2-1
2-1
 O/U Away
2-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
BALL
 Record BUFF
5-1
 All
5-0
3-0
 Home
3-0
2-1
 Away
2-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
3-3
 ATS
4-1
1-2
 ATS Home
3-0
2-1
 ATS Away
1-1
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
3-3
 O/U
4-1
1-2
 O/U Home
2-1
2-1
 O/U Away
2-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0
BALL
 Record BUFF
5-1
 All
5-0
3-0
 Home
3-0
2-1
 Away
2-0
0-0
 Neutral Site
0-0
3-3
 ATS
4-1
1-2
 ATS Home
3-0
2-1
 ATS Away
1-1
0-0
 ATS Neutral Site
0-0
3-3
 O/U
4-1
1-2
 O/U Home
2-1
2-1
 O/U Away
2-0
0-0
 O/U Neutral Site
0-0

Gametime Weather

6:30 pm EST Cloudy
-1ºC / 30ºF
76% Humidity
6% Precipitation
81% Cloud Cover
Wind Impact Stadium Type N/A
Field Image
Arrow Image 7
 mph

Trends

  • The total has gone OVER in 7 of Ball State's last 10 games.
  • Ball State are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games.
  • Ball State are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games against Buffalo.
  • Ball State are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the Mid-American conference.
  • Ball State are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games played on a Friday.
  • Ball State are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games when playing as the underdog.
  • Buffalo are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 9 of Buffalo's last 11 games.
  • Buffalo are 8-0 SU in their last 8 games.
  • The total has gone OVER in 7 of Buffalo's last 8 games against Ball State.
  • Buffalo are 7-0 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the Mid-American conference.
  • The total has gone OVER in 4 of Buffalo's last 5 games played in December.
  • Buffalo are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games played on a Friday.
  • Buffalo are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games when playing as the favourite.
  • Buffalo are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games played on a Friday when playing at home.

Injuries

Name Position Inj Desc
Ty RobinsonWRIs out for season, Thumb
Malcolm GillieWRIs "?", Undisclosed
Name Position Inj Desc
No Injuries to Report

Last 10 Games

Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 12, 2020WMU30-27W+2/66.5W/U103249352218273491-2
Dec 5, 2020CMU45-20W-2.5/63W/O153366519154188342-3
Nov 28, 2020TOL27-24W+10/67.5W/U14330444742407449-1
Nov 18, 2020NIU31-25W-14.5/59.5L/U2012144151123004120
Nov 11, 2020EMU38-31W-8.5/61.5L/O3042325362272504771
Nov 4, 2020M-OH31-38L-1/56.5L/O1693094781342884220
Nov 29, 2019MI-OH41-27W-3/55.5W/O261317578107168275-1
Nov 23, 2019KENT38-41L-3/67.5L/O3302085382663696351
Nov 16, 2019CMICH44-45L-1/60L/O231268499139356495-2
Nov 5, 2019W.MICH31-35L+6.5/65W/O2611484093821245060
View Game Logs
Date Opp Score SU Line/Total ATS OFF. RUSH OFF. PASS OFF. TOTAL DEF. RUSH DEF. PASS DEF. TOTAL TO
Dec 12, 2020AKRON56-7W-33/58.5W/O42879507921122040
Nov 28, 2020KENT70-41W-7.5/69.5W/O515148663235343578-1
Nov 17, 2020BOWL42-17W-31.5/58.5L/O39674470180219399-1
Nov 10, 2020M-OH42-10W-7.5/56W/U205353558139119258-1
Nov 4, 2020NIU49-30W-14.5/53.5W/O182175357156241397-3
Dec 20, 2019CHARLT31-9W-7/51.5W/U2057728280198278-1
Nov 29, 2019BGREEN49-7W-28/53.5W/O455131586106811870
Nov 20, 2019TOLEDO49-30W-10/54W/O331172503154248402-1
Nov 14, 2019KENT27-30L-6/55L/O2451343791191652840
Nov 2, 2019E.MICH43-14W-1.5/49.5W/O25220846025185210-1
View Game Logs
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