Conference championship season is officially upon us and we start with a beauty out of the MAC. The AP’s 23rd ranked Buffalo Bulls will take on the Ball State Cardinals. Buffalo is 5-0 on the season, having had one game canceled. Ball State is 5-1 and enters the game on a five-game winning streak. The last time these two teams met in the MAC Championship Game was in 2008, where the Bulls came out on top 42-24.
How they got here: Buffalo
The Bulls finished the regular season 5-0 and none of their games were particularly close. Buffalo outscored their opponents 259-105, a +154 point differential. Unlike many high-powered modern offenses, the Bulls get it done on the ground. There they are led by star Jaret Patterson, who ran for 1,025 yards and 18 touchdowns in just five games. These numbers go beyond just video games. To put it in perspective, Patterson ranks 8th in all of college football in rushing yards and 3rd in touchdowns despite playing only half the games that most running backs played. He leads the NCAA in yards per game with 205. His breakout performance came against Kent State. There, Patterson ran for 409 yards and eight touchdowns. EIGHT! Ball State can’t stop Patterson, but they’ll have to try to slow him down or it will get ugly.
When the Bulls throw the ball, which isn’t often, QB Kyle Vantrease has completed 60% of his passes for six touchdowns and just one pick. His ability to hold onto the ball and not turn it over has been a major key to the Bulls’ success. Leading receiver Antonio Nunn has caught 20 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns. He is a true deep-ball threat. Defensively, Buffalo boasts the MAC’s second-best defense at 367.2 yards per game.
How they got here: Ball State
The Cardinals got off to a shaky start after falling 38-31 to Miami (OH) in Week 1. However, they showed their resilience with five straight wins, including a winner-take-all game against Western Michigan last weekend. Unlike Buffalo, the Cardinals are without their star RB Caleb Huntley who is out for the season due to injury and will now look forward to the NFL Draft. After Huntly’s injury, Ball State essentially abandoned the run game. Led by senior QB Drew Plitt, the Cardinals have clicked. Plitt has thrown for 1,674 yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions in five games, missing the team’s first contest. Plitt’s veteran leadership will be needed for Ball State to pull the upset.
In terms of weapons in the passing game, Plitt has plenty. WR Justin Hall is the leader of the group with 620 yards, while Yo’Heinz Tyler has become a red-zone favorite with six touchdowns. Antwan Davis has added 344 yards as well. On defense, the Cardinals have found their stride lately. However, they still rank in the back half of the conference in terms of yards per game. Their struggles come mostly through the air, not on the ground, which could be a good sign for Friday.
Betting picks, predictions
Buffalo opens as 13.5 point favorites, and the over/under is currently at 67.8. Our odds are provided by our friends at BUSR. If you want to get in on the action and place a bet today, head over to Busr.com/studentunionsports. If Ball State wants to win this game, they will have to play perfect football. Their run defense has been solid, but they haven’t faced Jaret Patterson. The Cardinals will put up some points, but not enough to knock off the Bulls. These two teams combine to average over 85 points per game. I lean Buffalo and hammer the over.
