Ball State at Miami: How to watch, odds, injuries, weather, series history

Miami attempts to improve to 3-0 in 2024 when they host Ball State on Saturday. Miami won 41-17 in the season opener at Florida and followed that up with a 56-9 win over Florida A&M last week, Ball State opened their season with a 42-34 win over Missouri State last week.

Miami has been dominant offensively and defensively through its first two games. The Hurricanes are 11th nationally averaging 539.0 yards per game and 21st allowing 225.5 YPG. Ball State is one of only four FBS teams who have played one game this season. It's difficult to gauge them after playing FCS Missouri State.

Ball State had 435 yards to rank 48th nationally in YPG. Missouri State had 320 yards of offense to put Ball State 74th defensively in total defense. Miami should roll over Ball State. This is the type of game, Miami has too often struggled with in the past. With South Florida next week, Miami has to be ready on Saturday.

Ball State quarterback Kadin Semonza completed 28 passes in 39 attempts for 262 yards, four touchdowns and an interception versus Missouri State. Semonza also had six carries for 16 yards and a touchdown to account for five of the Cardinals' six end zone trips last week.

Ball State at Miami: How to Watch

Ball State at Miami will kick off at 3:30 PM Eastern Time on the ACC Network. Chris Cotter will call play-by-play, former Boston College and New York Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich will provide analysis and Coley Harvey is the sideline reporter.

Ball State at Miami: Odds

Miami is a 36.5-point favorite over Ball State on Saturday with an over/under of 54.5 per FanDuel. No moneyline is listed for Ball State at Miami. No parlay bets are listed for Ball State at Miami. There are teasers of Ball State by 1-13 Pts is +6000, Miami by 1-13 points is +1700 and the Hurricanes by 14+M is listed at -2100.

Ball State at Miami: Injury report

Ball State wide receivers Ty Robinson, Trey Firestone and Justin Boswick are all listed as questionable for Saturday. Miami was without cornerback Damari Brown, edge rusher Rueben Bain, offensive lineman Jalen Rivers and Ryan Rodriguez among others versus Florida A&M.

Bain and Brown will likely continue to miss time on Saturday. Mario Cristobal stated he didn't expect Rivers to be out too long. Rodriguez also seems likely to play versus Ball State. Miami is projected to be healthy otherwise among key players.

Miami Gardens Saturday forecast

Miami should have a huge advantage on Saturday in the first half with a 3:30 ET kickoff. The forecast has an 89 percent chance of rain with scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon per the Weather Channel. Wind is forecast out of the South/Southwest at six miles per hour.

The afternoon forecast is for a high of 91F with humidity at 74 percent and a UV Index that is projected to be extreme. Ball State could struggle with the heat and humidity with the afternoon kickoff. The conditioning for the Cardinals is something to watch versus Miami.

Ball State at Miami series history

Ball State and Miami are meeting for the first time on Saturday. Miami began the 2023 season versus Ball State's Mid-American Conference rival Miami (Ohio). Ball State lost 44-14 at Kentucky and 45-3 at Georgia during the 2023 season in the Cardinals' most recent games versus Power Conference opponents.

North Carolina State beat Ball State 34-23 the last time the Cardinals played an ACC School. Saturday is the first game in Florida for Ball State since a 31-27 loss at Florida Atlantic in 2016. It is 84 degrees with 30 percent humidity in Muncie, Indiana on Tuesday where Ball State is located.