Conference USA goes up against the MAC when 9-4 Central Florida and 9-3 Ball State play in the Beef OBradys Bowl Friday, Dec. 21 in St. Petersburg (7:30 pm ET, ESPN).
In the early OBrady Bowl betting the Knights, who lost the CUSA championship game in overtime to Tulsa, were favored by eight points over the Cardinals, who come in riding a six-game winning streak.
Favorites are 3-1 ATS in the first editions of this bowl, and Ball State is 0-3-1 ATS in its four bowl games since 1995. [ More Beef O Bradys Bowl betting preview and picks ]
View Ball State vs Central Florida Odds and Stats.
Betting Line: Those siding with the visitors in this one saw the Cardinals listed as 7.5-point underdogs earlier this week at Sportsbook. Meanwhile, the over under line was 61.5 earlier over at Sportsbook.
Ball State bowl history
| Year | Bowl | Team1 | Score | Team2 | Score | Team2Line | ATS win |
| 1996 | Las Vegas Bowl | Nevada | 18 | Ball State | 15 | Push | |
| 2007 | International Bowl | Ball State | 30 | Rutgers | 52 | -12 | RUTGER |
| 2008 | GMAC Bowl | Ball State | 13 | Tulsa | 45 | -2.5 | TULSA |
UCF Bowl History
| 2005 | Hawaii Bowl | Nevada | 49 | Central Florida | 48 | 4 | UCF |
| 2007 | Liberty Bowl | Central Florida | 3 | Mississippi State | 10 | 3 | MIS.ST |
| 2009 | St. Petersburg Bowl | Central Florida | 24 | Rutgers | 45 | -2.5 | RUTGER |
| 2010 | Liberty Bowl | Central Florida | 10 | Georgia | 6 | -6 | UCF |
How They Match Up:
Offensively, the game matches up Central Florida's No. 27-ranked offense (35.2 PPG) against a Cardinals defense that ranks No. 91 at 31.5 PPG. The Knights passing attack has averaged 222 yards per game, less than the Cardinals give up through the air (253.9 YPG on average).
In comparing defenses, the Cardinals own the league's No. 78-rated front 7 in terms of stopping the run, allowing 188.1 yards per game when on the road. Central Florida, on the other hand, rates No. 50 this week in generating rushing yards at home.
Ball State was a 31-24 Sportsbook in their most recent outing on the road against Miami (Ohio). They failed to cover the 8-point spread as favorites, while the total score (55) made Sportsbooks of UNDER bettors. The Cardinals grabbed a Week 13 victory over the RedHawks in their last game, winning 31-24 at Fred C Yager Stadium.
Central Florida was a 33-27 loser in its last match on the road against Tulsa. They failed to cover the 3-point spread as underdogs, while the total score of 60 sent OVER bettors to the payout window. In their last game, the Knights were Week 14 losers coming out on the wrong end of 33-27 score against Tulsa.
Ball State Cardinals Trends:
When playing in December are 0-2
When playing on turf are 8-2
After outgaining opponent are 6-4
When an underdog on the road are 5-5
Central Florida Knights Trends:
When playing in December are 3-5
When playing on turf are 4-6
After being outgained are 7-3
When favored at home are 8-2
A few Cardinals at Knights trends to consider:
Ball State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Ball State's last 7 games
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Ball State's last 17 games
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Central Florida's last 9 games
Central Florida is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
