Ohio and Ball State will face one another in a MAC matchup in college football this Saturday. The Bobcats are off to a 3-2 start in spite of a tough non-conference schedule. They will try to get a second win in as many tries against conference opponents here. Before the Bobcats and Cardinals meet in the MAC, keep reading to get my Ohio vs Ball State prediction.
Our Ohio vs Ball State Pick
- Pick: Ohio -14.5
- Confidence: 4/5
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Ohio Bobcats vs Ball State Cardinals
- Date & Time: Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET
- Venue: Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN
- Broadcast: CBS Sports Network
Key Storylines
Ohio is coming off a 35–20 win over Bowling Green and has looked more consistent lately. They have won two straight games after dropping two out of their first three games against power conference opponents. The Bobcats are viewed as a top-tier MAC contender and they are a heavy favorite here.
Ball State has struggled in nonconference play and has yet to beat an opponent from the FBS this year. Their lone win came against FCS New Hampshire and the Cardinals will try to pull off a huge upset at home to begin their MAC slate for the year.
Quarterback Play
Parker Navarro is doing the heavy lifting this year for Ohio. He has completed 84 of 127 attempts, with eight touchdowns and four interceptions to this point. Navarro is expected to perform even better as the season goes on, as Ohio doesn’t have any more power conference competition to worry about in 2025.
Ball State’s quarterback situation is less flattering. Kiael Kelly has completed 46 of 71 attempts for 472 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Ball State’s offense leans on its running backs to carry more of the offensive load. But that hasn’t worked out all that well for them against FBS opponents.
Betting Trends
- Ohio is 3-1-1 against the spread so far this season.
- Ball State is 3-1 against the spread through four games.
- The Bobcats have seen three of their first five games go over their totals.
- Ball State has gone 2-2 on over/unders to start the year.
Ohio vs Ball State Model Projection
Score Projection: Ohio 35 – Ball State 17
Win Probability: Ohio 80.9%, Ball State 19.1%
Final Thoughts
I have been high on the Ohio Bobcats throughout this year so far and I am not about to stop doing so here. Ohio should be able to move the ball through the air with Parker Navarro, while their defense will take advantage of the lack of a consistent aerial threat for Ball State. My best bet for this contest is for Ohio to win and cover the spread on the road, as they should win by more than two touchdowns here.
