In Week 4 of the 2025 college football season, the Ball State Cardinals travel to East Hartford, CT, to take on the Connecticut Huskies at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Both teams enter this game with identical records of 1-2, aiming to improve their season standings. The game kicks off at 3:30 PM and will be televised on CBSS.
The Ball State Cardinals come into this game after securing their first win of the season against New Hampshire, edging out the Wildcats 34-29. However, their road performance has been lacking, with two away losses against Purdue and Auburn. As they face the Huskies, they’ll be looking to turn around their away game record.
Connecticut, playing as the home team, has shown strength at Pratt & Whitney Stadium, having decisively defeated Central Connecticut State 59-13 earlier in the season. Despite back-to-back road losses against Delaware and Syracuse, the Huskies are likely to draw confidence from their previous home victory as they prepare to host Ball State.
Connecticut vs Ball State At a Glance
- Game Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM
- Venue: Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford, CT
- Broadcast: CBSS
- Ball State Record: 1-2 overall, 0-2 on the road
- Connecticut Record: 1-2 overall, 1-0 at home
- Game Odds: Ball State Moneyline +860, Connecticut Moneyline -1518
Connecticut Huskies Set to Take on Ball State Cardinals
Offensive Overview
The Connecticut Huskies’ offense has been impressive this season, ranking 12th in passing yards with 1008 yards over three games. Despite a solid air attack, their rushing game lags at 30th, accumulating 622 yards. The Huskies have managed to generate 75 first downs, showcasing their ability to sustain drives.
In their recent game against Delaware, the Huskies managed to gain 346 passing yards and 175 rushing yards, highlighting a balanced offensive approach. They matched Delaware with 29 first downs, demonstrating consistency in moving the chains.
Defensive Insights
Connecticut’s defense has shown strengths and weaknesses so far. While they’ve allowed 84 points, they rank 68th in points against, but their pass rush is formidable with nine sacks, ranking 6th. The defense has also been opportunistic, ranking 2nd in interceptions with one pick.
Against Delaware, the Huskies’ defense struggled to contain the run, giving up 247 rushing yards. However, their pass defense held firm, allowing only 265 passing yards.
Key Players
Quarterback Joe Fagnano has been a standout, ranking 1st in the team with 865 passing yards and five touchdowns over three games. His performance has been critical to Connecticut’s passing success. On the ground, Cam Edwards leads with 306 rushing yards, positioning him 1st on the team and 12th nationally.
Skyler Bell has been the primary target through the air, securing 22 receptions for 332 yards, ranking 5th nationally. His ability to create separation and gain yards after the catch has been vital for the Huskies’ passing game.
Recent Game Performances
In their last outing, Connecticut narrowly lost to Delaware 44-41. Despite the loss, the Huskies’ offense was potent, scoring 41 points and totaling 521 yards. The previous game against Syracuse also saw them put up a fight, though they fell short 27-20.
Connecticut’s only win this season came in their opener against Central Connecticut State, where they dominated with a 59-13 scoreline. The team displayed their full offensive capabilities in that game, gaining 388 passing yards and 293 rushing yards.
Connecticut’s Betting Trends
- SU – As Favorite: 10-0 in their last 10 games.
- SU – After Loss: 5-0 in their last 5 games.
- O/U – All Games: 4-0-1 in their last 5 games.
- ATS – After Win: 3-0 in their last 3 games.
- ATS – Home Games: 16-8 in their last 24 games.
Ball State Cardinals: Battling on the Road Against Connecticut Huskies
Offensive Dynamics
The Ball State Cardinals have shown a mixed performance in their offensive stats this season. With a total of 37 points scored so far, they rank 80th, indicating room for improvement. Their passing game has been less impressive, with 263 passing yards placing them at 139th.
On the ground, the Cardinals have been more effective, gaining 421 rushing yards, which ranks them 75th. This suggests their running game might be their best offensive asset. Their ability to secure first downs is better than average, with 40 first downs ranking them 46th.
Defensive Outlook
Defensively, Ball State has conceded 102 points, placing them 81st in the rankings. Despite this, their pass rush has been exceptional, recording 11 sacks, which ranks them 4th. However, they have not yet managed to secure an interception, standing at 1st for this stat.
Their ability to recover fumbles is also strong, with one recovery ranking them 5th. This indicates that while they may struggle to stop scores, they can create opportunities through sacks and fumbles.
Quarterback and Key Players
Quarterback Kiael Kelly has managed 263 passing yards over three games, ranking him 137th overall. Kelly has thrown two touchdowns and one interception, suggesting a need for improved efficiency. Running back Qua Ashley has been a standout performer, rushing for 209 yards, ranking 66th.
Wide receiver Eric Weatherly has made 7 receptions for 60 yards, leading the receiving corps. The Cardinals need more explosive plays from their receivers to support their offense.
Recent Performance
The Cardinals recently secured a narrow victory over New Hampshire, 34-29, showing resilience in a close contest. Their rushing attack was dominant in this game, amassing 308 yards on the ground. However, earlier games against Auburn and Purdue highlighted struggles, with significant losses of 42-3 and 31-0 respectively.
These mixed performances indicate the Cardinals need to find consistency, particularly on the road against tougher opponents.
Ball State Top Betting Trends
- ATS – Home Games: Last 10 Games (2023–2025) → 9-1 (90.0%)
- SU – As Favorite: Last 5 Games (2023–2025) → 5-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – Totals ≤ 42: Last 4 Games (2023) → 4-0 (100.0%)
- O/U – As Favorite: Last 3 Games (2024–2025) → 3-0 (100.0%)
- ATS – All Games: Last 20 Games (2023–2025) → 14-6 (70.0%)
- ATS – After Win: Last 6 Games (2023–2024) → 5-1 (83.3%)
- ATS – As Underdog: Last 16 Games (2023–2025) → 11-5 (68.8%)
- O/U – After Loss: Last 11 Games (2024–2025) → 8-3 (72.7%)
- O/U – All Games: Last 14 Games (2024–2025) → 9-4-1 (64.3%)
- ATS – As Favorite: Last 5 Games (2023–2025) → 4-1 (80.0%)
Connecticut vs Ball State Prediction: Connecticut -21.0
Connecticut is entering this game as a strong home favorite with a spread of -21.0. Their impressive offensive stats this season, ranking 20th in points for and 12th in passing yards, are indicative of their capability to cover this spread. Connecticut’s recent victory against Central Connecticut State with a score of 59-13 showcases their potential to perform dominantly at home.
The Huskies have been exceptional when playing as favorites, boasting a straight-up record of 10-0 in their last 10 games. At home, they have shown consistency with an 8-1 record in their last 9 games. These trends support the expectation that Connecticut will manage to cover the 21-point spread against Ball State.
Ball State, on the other hand, is struggling on the road, having lost both of their away games this season. Their defense has allowed a significant number of points, currently ranking 81st in points against, which could be exploited by Connecticut’s high-powered offense.
Considering both teams’ current form and statistics, Connecticut is well-positioned to capitalize on their home field advantage and offensive prowess to cover the spread. We expect Connecticut to deliver a strong performance and secure a convincing win over Ball State.
- Connecticut vs Ball State Prediction: Connecticut -21.0
- Connecticut vs Ball State Score: Connecticut 45 – Ball State 17
