Ball State Cardinals head coach Mike Uremovich is familiar with Big Ten football, as he's a former Purdue linebacker. Entering his second year as Ball State head coach, he's about to get a harsh reminder of just how good Big Ten talent is in Week 1.
The Cardinals finished 0-7 on the road last season and have to navigate The Horseshoe in their first game of the 2026 campaign. No. 1 Ohio State is looking to pounce on the Cardinals from the opening kickoff in hopes of keeping everyone healthy for what they hope will be a historic campaign.
If you are looking for some betting advice for the matchup, we've got you covered. Here are the latest odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM.
Ball State vs. Ohio State game odds
All college football odds via BetMGM
- Spread: Ball State +50.5 (-110), Ohio State -50.5 (-110)
- Money Line: Not available
- Over-Under: Over 56.5 (-110), Under 56.5 (-110)
Ball State vs. Ohio State prediction, pick:
This is going to be a tall task for
the Cardinals, as it would be for any team from the MAC or a non-power conference. Ball State finished second-to-last in offensive yards in the MAC last season, which makes it hard to see how they would put points on the board in this one, even with some new faces.
The question isn't whether Ohio State is going to win, but by how much. In a somewhat comparable spot, the Buckeyes beat Ohio, another team out of the MAC, 37-9 a year ago at home. The Bobcats were one of the better teams in the conference last year, while the Cardinals finished towards the bottom.
Still, that score gives fans a decent approximation of what to expect in this contest.
Prediction: Ohio State 52, Ball State 10
Best Bet: Over 56.5
Ball State vs. Ohio State, start time, streaming:
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
TV: Big Ten Network
Stream: Fox One app, FuboTV
Watch Ball State vs. Ohio State on FuboTV (Free Trial)
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Ball State vs. Ohio State: Week 1 Betting Odds, Prediction
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