PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* Tuesday Night ESPN2 Winner >> 5-0 NCAAF Sweep Saturday!
(NCAAF) Western Michigan vs. Ball State,
11/01/2016 4:00 PM, Score: 52 - 20
Point Spread: 18.00 | -115.00 Ball State (Home)
Result: Loss
Point Spread: 18.00 | -115.00 Ball State (Home)
Result: Loss
The set-up: P.J. Fleck was hired by Western Michigan in December of 2012, making him the youngest head coach in the FBS. The Broncos went 1-11 in his first season of 2013, the program's worst season since 2004. However, he then led the Broncos to consecutive 8-5 seasons with bowl appearances in 2014 and 2015, before 2016's breakout season. WMU beat Northwestern 22-21 on the road and then in Week 3 beat Illinois 34-10 on the road, making it the first time in program history that WMU beat two Big Ten teams in a single season. WMU improved to 6-0 with a win against his alma mater Northern Illinois in the season's sixth week, which was enough to get the Broncos into the AP's top-25 poll (at No. 24) for first time in Western Michigan's history. WMU is now 8-0 (ranked No. 17) as the Broncos head to Ball State (4-4 / 1-3 in the MAC) for this Tuesday night game.
Western Michigan: The last time Western Michigan started 8-0 was back in 1941, when there were only five bowl games. The Broncos didn't participate in one that season but are sure to compete in one of the 41 scheduled this December and January. More importantly, they are in the driver's seat to play in a "New Year's Day" bowl game as the highest-ranked team from the group of five conferences. The Broncos average 44.6 PPG (6th) on 502.1 YPG (14th), while allowing 19.2 PPG (19th) on 353.0 YPG (27th). Senior QB Zach Terrell completes 72.2 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns and one interception (WMU's first TO of the entire season came in its seventh game!). Terrell's favorite WR is Corey Davis (49 catches, FBS-most 11 TDs) and the running game (252.8 YPG on 5.2 YPC) is led by Jarvion Franklin (909 yards on 5.8 YPC with seven TDs).
Ball State: The Cardinals average 440.4 YPG and allow 440.2 YPG, scoring an average of 28.0 PPG while allowing 25.4 PPG. It's not hard to imagine them being the .500 team they actually are. The Cardinals have a sophomore QB in Riley Neal, who has had an up-and-down season (60.2 percent completions with 7 TDs and 9 INTs). Senior WR KeVonn Mabon has a team-high 50 receptions but zero touchdowns. RB James Gilbert is tied for 10th nationally and leads the MAC with 11 rushing TDs, while ranking eighth in the country with 897 rushing yards. The Ball State defense enters this game after allowing a season-high 35 points to Akron on October 22.
The pick: Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck told reporters his team is going to get everybody's "best shot" the rest of the way. "We have an enormous challenge on Tuesday night," Fleck said, "and our players understand that." That statement is the key to this pick. The Broncos are 3-0 in MAC play but 1-2 ATS, laying spreads of 17 1/2, 14 and 25 1/2 points. As for Ball State, some may be surprised to learn that the Cardinals are a perfect 3-0 ATS as an underdog in 2016, winning outright as a 6 1/2-point dog while losing by 10 as a 16 1/2-point and losing by three as a 12 1/2-point dog. Ball State is a 10* play.
Western Michigan: The last time Western Michigan started 8-0 was back in 1941, when there were only five bowl games. The Broncos didn't participate in one that season but are sure to compete in one of the 41 scheduled this December and January. More importantly, they are in the driver's seat to play in a "New Year's Day" bowl game as the highest-ranked team from the group of five conferences. The Broncos average 44.6 PPG (6th) on 502.1 YPG (14th), while allowing 19.2 PPG (19th) on 353.0 YPG (27th). Senior QB Zach Terrell completes 72.2 percent of his passes with 20 touchdowns and one interception (WMU's first TO of the entire season came in its seventh game!). Terrell's favorite WR is Corey Davis (49 catches, FBS-most 11 TDs) and the running game (252.8 YPG on 5.2 YPC) is led by Jarvion Franklin (909 yards on 5.8 YPC with seven TDs).
Ball State: The Cardinals average 440.4 YPG and allow 440.2 YPG, scoring an average of 28.0 PPG while allowing 25.4 PPG. It's not hard to imagine them being the .500 team they actually are. The Cardinals have a sophomore QB in Riley Neal, who has had an up-and-down season (60.2 percent completions with 7 TDs and 9 INTs). Senior WR KeVonn Mabon has a team-high 50 receptions but zero touchdowns. RB James Gilbert is tied for 10th nationally and leads the MAC with 11 rushing TDs, while ranking eighth in the country with 897 rushing yards. The Ball State defense enters this game after allowing a season-high 35 points to Akron on October 22.
The pick: Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck told reporters his team is going to get everybody's "best shot" the rest of the way. "We have an enormous challenge on Tuesday night," Fleck said, "and our players understand that." That statement is the key to this pick. The Broncos are 3-0 in MAC play but 1-2 ATS, laying spreads of 17 1/2, 14 and 25 1/2 points. As for Ball State, some may be surprised to learn that the Cardinals are a perfect 3-0 ATS as an underdog in 2016, winning outright as a 6 1/2-point dog while losing by 10 as a 16 1/2-point and losing by three as a 12 1/2-point dog. Ball State is a 10* play.
