Ball State Cardinals (2-3) vs. Central Michigan Chippewas (1-4)
The Ball State Cardinals head to Kelly/Shorts Stadium in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on Saturday afternoon to take on the Central Michigan Chippewas, as the 2022 college football season continues with Week 6 matchups.
Ball State has won its last two road contests against Central Michigan, but the Chippewas trounced the Cardinals 37-17 as 2.5-point road favorites in 2021. Central Michigan is listed as a 7.5-point home fave this time around, while the totals sit at 64.0 points.
The Ball State Cardinals pulled off an upset in Week 5, outlasting the Northern Illinois Huskies 44-38 in double overtime as 3.5-point home underdogs. The Cardinals rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit, tallying a thumping 31 points in the second half, while sophomore RB Carson Steele sealed the victory with a one-yard rushing TD in overtime.
Steele enjoyed a good game and finished with 24 carries for 77 yards and three touchdowns. Junior signal-caller John Paddock went 40-of-58 for 403 yards, three touchdowns, and a couple of interceptions, freshman wideout Tanner Koziol had seven catches for 89 yards and two scores, while senior WR Jayshon Jackson added ten receptions for 116 yards.
“We earned a victory today,” Ball State head coach Mike Neu said. “A hard-fought, never quit victory today against the defending Mid-American Conference Champions who were picked to finish number one in the preseason. We won't forget that we were picked to finish last.”
This Weeks Players of the Game vs. NIU!@tannerkoziol16 @Red_Potts @_colepearce @BorrowLucas #1AAT x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/zXNPSWXyR7
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) October 3, 2022
Now, the Cardinals are 1-1 in the conference play. Back in Week 2, they suffered a 37-30 defeat to the Western Michigan Broncos, failing to cover a 6.5-point spread in front of the home fans. After routing Murray State 31-0 as 21-point home favorites in Week 3, the Cardinals lost 34-23 as 9.5-road dogs at Georgia Southern in Week 4.
Ball State’s offense ranks 17th in the country in passing yards (307.6 per game) and 89th in rushing yards (137.8). The Cardinals are yielding 33.6 points per contest (tied-112th) on 230.6 passing yards (72nd) and 201.6 rushing yards ( 121st).