Indiana at Ball State 8/31/19 - NCAA Football Picks & Predictions

Last Updated: 08/21/2019 at 10:28 AM ET

Lucas Oil Stadium will play host to a clash between in-state rivals, when the Indiana Hoosiers take on the Ball State Cardinals on Friday night. The Hoosiers enter the 2019 campaign looking to snap a streak of 27 seasons without a bowl appearance. Indiana will break in a new quarterback and a new offensive coordinator, but return 15 starters from a team that went 5-7 a year ago. RB Stevie Scott is coming off a 1,137 rushing yard season and the Hoosiers are loaded in the backfield.

Indiana trended the wrong way on defense in 2018, allowing almost 84 yards of total offense more than the previous year. DE James Head gives the Hoosiers a true pass rushing threat, while Marcelino Ball will be counted on to play a hybrid LB/S role.
The Ball State Cardinals won just four games in 2018, but could make a jump in the MAC Conference this season. The offense is the strength of this squad, as it returns eight starters from a unit that averaged 408 yards per game. The wide receiving corps, led by upperclassmen Justin Hall and Riley Miller figure to be among the best position groups in the conference.

The good news is that the Ball State defense returns nine starters, but the bad news is this unit was gashed for 450 yards and 32 points per contest. Outside linebackers Ray Wilborn and Christian Albright figure to wreak havoc all season long.

In the season opener between both teams there will be plenty of points scored. Both teams have dynamic playmaking groups on offenses and defenses that struggled a season ago. Take the over on Friday. Final Score Prediction, Indiana Hoosiers win in high scoring game that goes way over the total 41-24.

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