Ball State Cardinals vs Kentucky Wildcats Prediction, Picks and Game Preview - 09/02/2023

Game Time: 12:00 pm ET, Saturday, September 2, 2023

Venue:  Kroger Field, Lexington, KY

Where to Watch:  SEC Network

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Ball State +26.5, Kentucky -26.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Ball State +26.5, Kentucky -26.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Ball State +26.5, Kentucky -26.5; Over/Under:  48.5 points

Ball State Cardinals:  0-0 (MAC West)

Kentucky Wildcats:  0-0 (SEC East)

Do not miss out on our expert handicapper analysis! Kyle Hunter is coming off a GREAT YEAR in NCAAF going 70% in CFB Last Season (57-24)! Make sure you check out his picks and many more from the expert handicappers featured in the Shop Picks section.

Ball State Cardinals:  N/A

Kentucky Wildcats:  N/A

Ball State finished last season with a 5-7 record overall and they had a 3-5 record in their conference games too.  They were 3-3 in their home games, 2-4 in their road games, and they were also 0-0 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be on the road for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 23.2 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 26.9 points per game. Their offense also averaged 384.2 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 398.4 yards per game. John Paddock led the team in passing yards with 2719, Carson Steele led the team in rushing yards with 1556, and Jayson Jackson led the team in receiving yards with 823.

 

 

 

Kentucky finished last season with a 7-6 record overall and they had a 3-5 record in their conference games too.  They were 5-3 in their home games, 2-2 in their road games, and they were also 0-1 in their neutral site games last season, but they will be at home for this season opener. Last season, their offense was averaging 20.4 points scored per game while their defense was allowing an average of 19.2 points per game. Their offense also averaged 324.7 yards per game while their defense was allowing an average of 311.4 yards per game. Will Levis led the team in passing yards with 2406, Christopher Rodriguez Jr. led the team in rushing yards with 904, and Barion Brown led the team in receiving yards with 628.

The current betting odds have Kentucky listed as a 26.5 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. Kentucky was 7-6 last season and finished the season winning their bowl game but they weren't great in their conference games with just a 3-5 record in the SEC. They did lose their QB from last season too but they have done a good job finding replacements in the transfer portal and they have actually improved their team as they are better on both sides of the ball this season. Their defense is really good and their offense will have no trouble moving the ball here against Ball State who gave up a ton of points last season. Ball State wasn't great last season either with their losing record overall and they even struggled in their own conference going 3-5 in those games. They were only 2-4 in their road games too while Kentucky was 5-3 in their home games and this improved Kentucky team will make it really difficult for Ball State to put up any points in this game. The best way to place a bet here is on Kentucky to cover the spread in this game. 

Ball State Kentucky Prediction:  Our NCAAF Pick for Saturday, September 2, 2023 (12:00 pm ET start time) is Kentucky 41 Ball State 10.

Don't miss our champion handicappers free picks and expert football picks today. And if you enjoyed this Ball State Cardinals Kentucky Wildcats prediction, be sure to drop by every day for our weekly NCAAF predictions and previews.

Ball State Cardinals: 2-7 ATS in non-conference games. 1-7 ATS in the first month of the season. 18-7 UNDER in all games. 8-4 UNDER in road games.

Kentucky Wildcats: 11-5 ATS as a favorite of 21.5 to 31 points. 10-5 ATS in home games. 17-9 UNDER in all games. 7-2 UNDER when the total is between 42.5 and 49.

Ball State Cardinals:  C. Davis (RB) Ques Sept 2 - Knee.

Kentucky Wildcats:  L. Wright (RB) Prob Sept 2 - Undisclosed. J. Wilcox (RB) Ques Sept 2 - Hamstring. J. Dingle (TE) Ques Sept 2 - Undisclosed. J. Kattus (TE) Ques Sept 2 - Undisclosed. R. Jefferson (RB) Prob Sept 2 - Knee.

"We had too many penalties, though. We have a lot to learn. But that's what today was about – develop some discipline and some consistency, and make sure that we're not making those same mistakes when we have a real opponent on the field." - Mike Neu on his team coming into this new college football season.

“Yeah, it just means an awful lot. I greatly appreciate the support. We always do.” - Mark Stoops on the fan support coming into this season opener.

WR Presley, Nick 

TE Hunt, Brady 

TE Koziol, Tanner 

QB Kelly, Kiael 

RB Pemberton, Vaughn 

WR Key, Dane 

WR Brown, Barion 

WR Robinson, Tayvion 

TE Dingle, Jordan 

TE Bates, Brenden 

QB Leary, Devin 

RB Davis, Ray 

FB Dingle II, Justice 

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Passing: N/A

Rushing: N/A

Receiving: N/A

Touchdowns: N/A

Coaches:

Ball State Cardinals: Mike Neu (8th season)

Kentucky Wildcats: Mark Stoops (11th season)