dustin-crum-kent-state-cbs.jpg
USATSI

The Kent State Golden Flashes will be looking for their 12th consecutive home win and fourth in a row over the Ball State Cardinals at Dix Stadium in Kent, Ohio. The Cardinals (4-4, 2-2), who have won three of their last four games, have won 16 of the past 20 meetings against Kent State. The Golden Flashes (3-5, 2-2), who snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over Akron on Oct. 22, have won three of the last five meetings with Ball State. Kent State posted a 41-38 win over the Cardinals in their last meeting on Nov. 23, 2019, at Kent State. Kent State quarterback Collin Schlee (lower-body injury) is questionable. 

The game is set to kick off at 7 p.m. ET. Ball State's defense is allowing 396.2 total yards per game this season, while Kent State is giving up 454.9. The Golden Flashes are 7-point favorites in the latest Ball State vs. Kent State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 62. Before locking in any Kent State vs. Ball State picks or MACtion predictions, you need to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past six-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Kent State vs. Ball State 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 Ball State vs. Kent State:

  • Ball State vs. Kent State spread: Kent State -7
  • Ball State vs. Kent State over/under: 62 points
  • Ball State vs. Kent State money line: Ball State +215, Kent State -267
  • BSU: The Under is 6-0 in the Cardinals' last six games in November
  • KSU: The Golden Flashes are 10-3 against the spread in their last 13 November games
  • Ball State vs. Kent State picks: See picks at SportsLine

Why Kent State can cover

Junior wide receiver Dante Cephas helps lead the Golden Flashes' passing attack. He is tops on the team in receptions with 47 for 731 yards (15.6 average) and three scores. Cephas has surpassed 100 or more receiving yards three times, including 13 receptions for 246 yards and one touchdown in a 31-24 overtime win over Ohio on Oct. 1. He also caught nine passes for 118 yards and a score in a 27-24 loss to Miami (Ohio) a week later.

Defensively, senior safety Nico Bolden tops Kent State with 72 tackles, including 45 solo. He also has one pass breakup. Bolden had a 14-tackle effort at Toledo, which included five solo stops. He added nine tackles, including eight solo, in the Oct. 22 win over Akron. For his career, which started at New Mexico, he has 205 tackles, including 124 solo, with one sack, five forced fumbles, two interceptions and three pass breakups.

Why Ball State can cover

Senior wide receiver Jayshon Jackson leads the team with 54 receptions for 633 yards (11.7 average) and two touchdowns. He has also carried eight times for 83 yards. Jackson has had two games with 10 receptions and over 100 yards receiving, including a 122-yard and one touchdown effort against Georgia Southern on Sept. 24. A week later against Northern Illinois, he caught 10 passes for 116 yards.

Defensively, the Cardinals are led by junior linebacker Cole Pearce. He leads the team with 3 ½ sacks for 28 yards, and is third in tackles with 61, including 32 solo. He has four pass breakups and one interception. Pearce had a monster game in his last outing with 15 tackles, including two solo, with one sack and one pass breakup.

How to make Ball State vs. Kent State picks

SportsLine's model is leaning Under on the total, projecting 61 combined points. It also has generated an against-the-spread pick that cashes in more than 60% of simulations. You can only get the model's picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Kent State vs. Ball State? And which side of the spread hits more than 60% 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.