The Buffalo Bulls (6-3, 4-1 MAC) and the Ball State Cardinals (3-6, 2-3) meet Wednesday at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Let's analyze college football odds around the Buffalo vs. Ball State odds and make our expert college football picks and predictions for the best bets.
Ball State leads the all-time series 11-3. The Bulls won the most recent meeting in Buffalo 51-48 in overtime in 2024, while the Cardinals held on as a 3.5-point underdog. Ball State is 4-0 against the spread (ATS) in the past 4 meetings, and it is 5-2 straight up (SU) in the past 7 meetings, including a 20-3 victory in 2021, in the most recent meeting in Muncie. In addition, the Under has a 4-3 edge in the past 7 in the series.
Buffalo is in contention for a spot in the Dec. 5 MAC Championship Game in Detroit, Michigan, as it is a half-game back of the Ohio Bobcats and Western Michigan Broncos in the conference standings, while it is tied with the Toledo Rockets, who hosts the UMass Minutemen Wednesday.
The Bulls have won 4 in a row, including a 34-31 OT win at the Miami (Ohio) RedHawks Nov. 3, covering as a 6.5-point underdog. The Bulls are 5-0 ATS in their past 5 games, while the Over has cashed in each of the past 2 games, and Buffalo scored 23+ in 4 in a row, while allowing 27.5 points per game (PPG) in the past 2 outings.
The Cardinals are trying to stay alive for a bowl game, but they need to win out. They lost a 31-30 heartbreaker in OT at UMass to really deal their postseason hopes a blow. That snapped a 2-game win streak, although the Cardinals are still 5-0 ATS in the past 5 games. The Over is 4-1 in that span, and 7-2 on the season. Ball State has scored 30+ in 3 consecutive outings.
– Rankings: US LBM Coaches Poll, conducted by the American Football Coaches Association and USA TODAY Sports
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Buffalo at Ball State odds
Provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 6:12 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Buffalo -120 (bet $120 to win $100) | Ball State +100 (bet $100 to win $100)
- Against the spread: Buffalo -1.5 (-110) | Ball State +1.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 51.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
Buffalo at Ball State picks and predictions
Prediction
Buffalo 31, Ball State 27
Moneyline
Buffalo (-120) is the better team here, but there is always risk hitting the road, especially against a hungry team looking to keep its flickering postseason hopes alive.
Ball State has shown a prolific offense in recent games, but the defense hasn't been very good. Still, there is no sense in paying up to take the moneyline. Just lay the little bit of points for a better value.
PASS.
Against the spread
Backing BUFFALO -1.5 (-110) is a much stronger play, for a slightly smaller price, unless you're absolutely convinced the Bulls are going to win by just a single point. That's the only reason to take the Bulls on the moneyline as opposed to the spread. If you like Ball State, pass on the spread and go with the moneyline, but that's not what we're suggesting.
Over/Under
OVER 51.5 (-105) is a much better play, as both of these teams have scored points at a somewhat feverish pace in MACtion.
The Bulls have averaged 28.3 PPG in the past 3 outings, while allowing 27.5 PPG in the past 2 games. The Cardinals have averaged 32.0 PPG on offense in the past 3 games, while the defense has allowed 426.4 total yards per game, 246.7 passing yards and 179.8 rushing yards per game, while conceding 34.8 PPG, 131st in the nation.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW. Follow Daniel Dobish on X at @danieledobish. Follow SportsbookWire on X at SportsBookWire and on Facebook.
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This article originally appeared on Sportsbook Wire: Buffalo Bulls at Ball State Cardinals odds, picks and predictions
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