Ball State vs Buffalo Picks and Prediction – 2/1/2025

The Ball State Cardinals (9-11, 3-5 Mid-American Conference) are set to face the Buffalo Bulls (7-13, 2-6 MAC) on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Alumni Arena in Buffalo, New York. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 PM EST, with live coverage available on ESPN+. Get in on the action with our free NCAAB picks.

In their last meeting on January 23, 2024, Ball State secured a commanding 87-59 victory over Buffalo at Alumni Arena. Center Ben Hendriks had a notable performance, with multiple family members in attendance due to the proximity of his hometown, Mississauga, Ontario, to Buffalo. 

Ball State is coming off a narrow 74-71 loss to Western Michigan on January 28, despite a standout performance from Payton Sparks, who recorded 19 points and a career-best 17 rebounds. The Cardinals have shown strength on the defensive glass, ranking third in the MAC in both defensive rebounds per game (25.5) and defensive rebound percentage (72.3) in league play. 

Buffalo recently earned a 75-69 home victory over Central Michigan on January 28, marking their second conference win of the season. The Bulls lead the MAC in blocks per game (3.8) and rank second in fewest fouls per game (16.2). Sophomore guard Ryan Sabol paces the MAC in three-pointers made (66) and is second in scoring at 16.6 points per game, while senior guard Tyson Dunn leads the conference with 5.9 assists per game, placing him 26th nationally. 

Buffalo has the offensive capability to make this one tough for Ball State. Unfortunately for them, Ball State has the better defense and depth to outlast the Bulls on their home court. This will likely be a close one for much of the night, but we like the Cardinals to pull away at the end, 78-70.