The Ball State Cardinals (1-4) and the Kent State Golden Flashes (0-5) square off on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at Dix Stadium in a battle of MAC opponents.

The Cardinals are favored, but by less than a touchdown (-3.5), against the Golden Flashes. The over/under for this game is 58.5 points.

Below you can find our preview for this this contest between the Cardinals and the Golden Flashes, and uncover all of our expert picks here, too!

Ball State vs. Kent State betting lines

• Spread favorite: Cardinals (-3.5)
• Moneyline: Cardinals (-169), Golden Flashes (+140)
• Total: 58.5 points

Ball State vs. Kent State betting info and stats

Ball State is 3-2-0 against the spread this season. In one game as the moneyline favorite, Ball State won. Kent State has not won a game against the spread so far this season (0-5-0). When Kent State is an underdog of 3.5 points or more, it has not yet covered the spread. This will be the fifth time this year Kent State is the moneyline underdog, and have lost each such contest.

Ball State vs. Kent State recent stats and trends

Ball State Cardinals

• Ball State has covered the spread twice in its last three matchups while putting up a 0-3 record straight-up in those games.
• In each of those games, the final combined score has surpassed the set total.
• The past three Ball State games averaged 3.7 fewer points (54.8) than this matchup’s point total.

Kent State Golden Flashes

• Kent State is winless against the spread over its last three games, and has a 0-3 straight-up record in those matchups.
• The final combined score of the last three Kent State games has gone over the set total twice.
• The past three Kent State games averaged 3.3 fewer points (55.2) than this matchup’s point total.

Ball State vs. Kent State key players

Ball State Cardinals

• Kadin Semonza has 1,133 passing yards for Ball State, completing 66.9% of his passes and collecting 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.
• The team’s top rusher, Braedon Sloan, has carried the ball 77 times for 347 yards (69.4 per game) and two touchdowns. He’s proven to be a dual threat, racking up 201 receiving yards on 17 catches with one touchdown through the air.
• Vaughn Pemberton has been handed the ball 12 times this year and racked up 44 yards (11 per game).
• Tanner Koziol’s leads his squad with 391 yards as a receiver. He’s racked up that yardage on 38 catches (out of 51 targets) and scored three touchdowns.
• Cam Pickett has hauled in 23 catches for 185 yards, an average of 37 yards per game. He’s scored one time as a receiver this season.
• Riley Tolsma leads the team with 2.5 sacks, and also has two TFL and seven tackles.
• Jackson Wiegold, Ball State’s leading tackler, has 10 tackles and one TFL this year.
• Joey Stemler has picked off a team-high one pass. He also has three tackles, one TFL, and one pass defended to his name.

Kent State Golden Flashes

• Devin Kargman leads Kent State with 432 yards on 45-of-82 passing with three touchdowns compared to two interceptions this season.
• Ky Thomas has rushed 46 times for 140 yards.
• Ayden Harris has run for 83 yards across 24 attempts, scoring one touchdown.
• Chrishon McCray leads his squad with 309 receiving yards on 17 receptions with four touchdowns.
• Luke Floriea has put together a 291-yard season so far with three touchdowns. He’s caught 19 passes on 31 targets.
• Dashawn Martin’s four receptions (on 13 targets) have netted him 46 yards (9.2 ypg).
• Kameron Olds has three sacks to pace the team, and also has three TFL, 13 tackles, and one interception.
• Rocco Nicholl, Kent State’s tackle leader, has 35 tackles this year.
• Olds has picked off a team-leading one pass. He also has 13 tackles, three TFL, three sacks, and one pass defended to his name.