As Week 6 of the 2025 regular season approaches, the Ohio Bobcats prepare to visit the Ball State Cardinals at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana. The Bobcats hold a 3-2 record this season, with all victories coming at home and both losses on the road. They recently overcame the Bowling Green Falcons 35-20, demonstrating their offensive capabilities with 238 rushing yards. The Ball State Cardinals enter this game with a 1-3 record, securing their lone victory at home against the New Hampshire Wildcats. Their most recent game ended in a close 31-25 defeat against the Connecticut Huskies. Despite their struggles on the road, the Cardinals will look to capitalize on their home field advantage at Scheumann Stadium. In the betting realm, the Ohio Bobcats are significant favorites with a moneyline of -679, while the Ball State Cardinals stand at +480. The spread favors Ohio by 14.5 points, hinting at expectations for a decisive outcome. With the total set at 50.5 points, both teams will aim to surpass their offensive benchmarks in this Mid-American conference showdown.
Ball State vs Ohio At a Glance
- Game Location: Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, IN
- Game Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 12:00 PM
- Television Broadcast: CBSS
- Ohio Bobcats Record: 3-2 overall, 0-2 on the road
- Ball State Cardinals Record: 1-3 overall, 1-0 at home
- Betting Odds: Ohio -14.5 spread, -679 moneyline; Ball State +480 moneyline
Cardinals’ Next Challenge: Ball State’s Upcoming Showdown
Offensive Struggles
Ball State’s offense has struggled to find its rhythm this season. Ranking 131st in passing yards with only 491 yards, they have been unable to consistently move the ball through the air.
On the ground, the Cardinals have been slightly better but still face challenges, ranking 92nd with 597 rushing yards. Their 62 points scored rank them 88th, highlighting their overall offensive difficulties.
Defensive Performance
Defensively, Ball State has shown potential in creating pressure on the quarterback with 11 sacks, which places them 10th. However, they have yet to record an interception, despite ranking 1st in this category, indicating missed opportunities.
Allowing 133 points, Ball State ranks 94th in points against, demonstrating vulnerabilities in their defense. Their ability to recover fumbles has been a bright spot, ranking 6th with one fumble recovery.
Recent Games Recap
The Cardinals recently fell short against Connecticut, losing 31-25 despite a strong passing game with 228 yards. This was a closer contest compared to their earlier games, showing some signs of improvement.
Previously, they managed a victory against New Hampshire, winning 34-29, largely thanks to a dominant rushing performance of 308 yards. In contrast, their game against Auburn resulted in a 42-3 defeat, highlighting their inconsistency.
Key Players
Quarterback Kiael Kelly has been a focal point for Ball State, with 472 passing yards and three touchdowns over four games. His performance will be crucial for any offensive resurgence.
Running back Qua Ashley stands out in the ground game, with 295 rushing yards and three touchdowns, offering a reliable option in their running attack. Eric Weatherly leads the receiving corps with 100 yards on nine receptions.
Ball State Betting Trends
- ATS – Home Games: 9-1 (90.0%)
- SU – As Favorite: 5-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – Totals ≤ 42: 4-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – All Games: 3-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – As Favorite: 3-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – After Win: 3-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – As Underdog: 13-5 (72.2%)
- O/U – All Games: 11-4-1 (68.8%)
Ohio Bobcats Set to Tackle Ball State Cardinals in Away Game Showdown
Team Overview
The Ohio Bobcats have demonstrated a strong offensive performance this season, ranking 40th in points for with 144 points. Their passing game has accumulated 1097 yards, placing them 54th, while their rushing game is a standout, ranked 29th with 1008 yards.
Defensively, Ohio has allowed 136 points, placing them 96th, but their ability to pressure the quarterback with 11 sacks ranks them 10th. They have also been effective at creating turnovers, with 7 interceptions and a fumble recovery, ranking 8th and 6th, respectively.
Recent Performances
In their most recent game against Bowling Green, Ohio emerged with a 35-20 victory at home. The Bobcats outgained the Falcons on the ground with 238 rushing yards compared to 180.
Ohio’s passing attack also found success against Gardner-Webb with 290 yards in their 52-35 victory. However, their only loss this season came at the hands of Ohio State, where they struggled offensively, managing only 9 points.
Key Players
Parker Navarro has been a reliable presence at quarterback, with 1078 passing yards and 8 touchdowns over five games. In the rushing department, Sieh Bangura has been a force with 414 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Chase Hendricks has led the receiving corps with 481 yards and 4 touchdowns, providing Navarro with a dependable target. On defense, the Bobcats have benefited from their strong pass rush and secondary play.
Upcoming Challenges
Ohio’s next challenge will be an away game against Ball State Cardinals. The Bobcats are favorites, but playing away from home will test their consistency.
The game is scheduled for October 4th, 2025, at Scheumann Stadium. A strong performance will be crucial as Ohio looks to maintain momentum in their season.
Team Betting Trends
- SU – As Favorite: 21-2 in the last 23 games (2022–2025)
- SU – Home Games: 20-2 in the last 22 games (2022–2025)
- SU – Totals ≥ 50: 18-2 in the last 20 games (2022–2025)
- SU – After Loss: 8-0 in the last 8 games (2023–2025)
- SU – All Games: 22-7 in the last 29 games (2023–2025)
- ATS – Totals ≥ 50: 16-5 in the last 21 games (2022–2025)
- ATS – After Win: 7-1 in the last 8 games (2024–2025)
- SU – After Win: 20-8 in the last 28 games (2022–2025)
- ATS – All Games: 9-2 in the last 11 games (2024–2025)
- O/U – As Favorite: 3-0 in the last 3 games (2024–2025)
- ATS – Home Games: 6-1 in the last 7 games (2024–2025)
- ATS – As Favorite: 5-1 in the last 6 games (2024–2025)
Ball State vs Ohio Prediction: Ball State +14.5
The Ohio Bobcats, with a 3-2 record, have been strong at home but have struggled on the road with a 0-2 record. Their offensive ranks are impressive, especially in rushing yards where they rank 29th nationally. However, their defense has allowed a significant amount of points, ranking 96th in points against.
Ball State, despite a 1-3 overall record, has shown resilience at home with a perfect 1-0 record this season. Their performance as underdogs is noteworthy with a 13-5 ATS record in their last 18 games. Additionally, Ball State’s recent ATS performance at home is exceptional, with a 9-1 record in their last 10 home games.
Considering Ohio’s road struggles and Ball State’s strong home ATS trends, picking Ball State to cover the +14.5 spread seems favorable. Their ability to keep games close at home combined with Ohio’s defensive vulnerabilities gives Ball State a good chance to cover.
Projected final score: Ohio 28 – Ball State 21, with Ball State covering the spread.
- Ball State vs Ohio Prediction: Ball State +14.5
- Ball State vs Ohio Score: Ohio 28 – Ball State 21
