Ball State at Miami: final odds and predictions

Miami continues to be favored by 36.5 points over Ball State on Saturday, per FanDuel. The over/under has increased to 55.5 after being at 54.5 earlier in the week. Miami is coming off a season-opening 41-17 win against Florida and a 56-9 victory over Florida A&M in the previous week as they head into the game against Ball State.

Miami covered the point spread in their opening two games versus Florida and FAMU. Ball State won its season opener 42-34 versus Ball State. Saturday is the first meeting between Ball State and Miami. Miami last played a Mid American Conference team in 2023 when it beat Miami (Ohio) 38-3 in the season opener.

Ball State has experience playing power conference teams, with losses at Kentucky and Georgia to begin the 2023 season. In 2023, the Cardinals had an overall record of 4-8 and were 3-5 in the MAC.  in the 12-team MAC. Despite being initially picked third in the ACC by the media, Fanduel lists Miami as the favorite to win the conference.

Ball State covered as a 2.5 point favorite versus Missouri State. Miami covered as a 2.5-point favorite over Florida in the season opener and was minus 44.5 versus Florida A&M last week. The 36.5-point spread is huge versus another FBS opponent. Ball State needed a 28-point fourth quarter while allowing 20 points to beat Missouri State.

Miami looks like the best team in the ACC and is legitmately living up to its ranking of 10th in the Associated Press Top 25. Behind Cam Ward, Miami should continue to roll. Lay the points, bet Miami to cover and the over comfortably. Ball State is one of the poorer teams in the MAC.

Ball State showed its offense can be explosive in the fourth quarter versus Missouri State. The Cardinals were stagnant offensively through the first three quarters. Miami should be able to generate offense throughout the game as Missouri State did over the final 15 minutes versus Ball State last week.