Ohio vs. Ball State Picks, Predictions College Football Week 12: Can Cardinals Earn Bowl Eligibility?

The Bobcats and Cardinals square off in a key MAC showdown. Read on for our Ohio-Ball State picks and predictions.

Mike Spector

Last updated: November 15, 2022 4:47 AM EST • 3 min read

Tuesday night's MAC matchup between the Ohio Bobcats and Ball State Cardinals can go a long way to helping solidify the division races. We're breaking down the betting angles with our Ohio-Ball State college football picks.

No team has built a longer winning streak in the MAC than the Ohio Bobcats (7-3, 5-1). Ohio took control of the MAC East Division with a five-game winning streak, and the school controls its own destiny for a spot in the conference championship game. Buffalo and Bowling Green are behind Ohio at 4-2 during conference play.

Meanwhile, Ball State’s chances to claim a West Division title evaporated after a Week 10 loss to Toledo. Had the Cardinals (5-5, 3-3) beaten the Rockets, they would have controlled their own fate for a conference championship game appearance. Now they sit two games out of first place.

Here are our top picks for Tuesday's matchup between Ohio and Ball State (odds via Caesars Sportsbook, BetMGM, and FanDuel Sportsbook; pick confidence is based on a 1-to-5-star scale).

Check out our Bowling Green vs. Toledo picks and our Week 12 college football picks roundup.

Ohio vs. Ball State Info

Date: Tuesday, Nov. 15, 7 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN2
Location: Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN
Weather: 33 degrees, 59% chance of precipitation, 9-mph westerly winds

Ohio vs. Ball State Odds

Ohio vs. Ball State Odds Analysis

Ohio remains favored at the opening number of 4 points even with the support of 66% of the betting handle on a more modest 52% of the tickets.

The Over/Under, meanwhile, has ticked up from the opening line of 53 to 55 as of Tuesday morning. The Over has drawn 72% of the tickets but just 54% of the handle, according to Pregame.com.

Ohio vs. Ball State Picks

Ohio vs. Ball State ATS Pick

Ball State +4 (-110) ★★★★

Included in Ohio’s five-game winning streak are three victories as the underdog, and its average margin of victory during that span is 16.8 points. Conversely, Ball State has earned only one seven-plus-point win over its five triumphs. Given the Cardinals’ comfort level playing in close games, I'll gladly take the points with them as home underdogs.

Ball State should be plenty motivated too, as it would snap a six-year postseason drought with a win. The Cardinals entered last week ranked third in the country in havoc allowed, and its offensive line is effective at preventing opposing defenses from reaching the backfield.

The team also possesses the perfect formula for keeping the high-powered Bobcats offense off the field. Carson Steele, the MAC's leading rusher, has run for 100-plus yards in eight of his last nine games. He's also logged at least three rushing touchdowns in three of the previous six contests. Cardinals head coach Mike Neu will likely ride his workhorse with so much at stake.

Ohio vs. Ball State O/U Pick

Under 53.5 (-110) ★★

The Cardinals are one of the conference's most disciplined defensive teams. They entered last week ranked 24th in tackling and in the top 60 in pass coverage, according to PFF.

Conversely, Ohio ranked outside the top 120 in both categories. However, the team makes up for that weakness with one of the country's most methodical tempos (96th entering Week 10). Ball State’s John Paddock ranks dead-last in the conference with 5.8 passing yards per attempt, and his dink-and-dunk style should play right into Ohio’s hands defensively.

Ohio vs. Ball State Prop Pick

First half Under 26.5 (-124) ★★★

This Under has cashed during each of Ball State’s last four conference games, and it's 8-0 in the squad's previous eight November contests.

Expect the Cardinals to hang tough early as they try to establish Steele on the ground, which should lead to minimal possessions over the first 30 minutes. Additionally, it could take each team time to get used to the elements, with possible snow forecasted for Tuesday night.

Where to Bet on Ohio-Ball State Picks

See our top-rated sportsbooks in Ohio and Indiana, and our reviews:

Ohio-Ball State picks made 11/14/2022 at 9:10 a.m. ET

Written By:
Mike Spector

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”