Ball State (0-0) vs Purdue (0-0)
August 30, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT
The Line: Betting Odds: Purdue -18.5 — Over/Under: +50.5
The Ball State Cardinals and the Purdue Boilermakers meet in week 1 college football action from Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Ball State Cardinals vs. Purdue Boilermakers prediction.
Ball State Cardinals Team Preview
The Ball State Cardinals come into the 2025 campaign hoping to make a step forward under new head coach Mike Uremovich, who comes over from Butler to take over a Ball State team that finished 3-9 including 2-6 in MAC play. Quarterback Kadin Semonza transferred to Tulane, leaving Kiael Kelly and Walter Taylor to compete for the job, while the backfield had to also be rebuilt through the portal with Qua Ashley coming over from Kennesaw State, giving the Cardinals a versatile pass-catching back out of the backfield. The Cardinals are hoping for a clean bill of health for speedy receiver Ty Robinson while also getting help from the portal in this area as well. On defense, Joey Stemler leads the way for Ball State in the middle, while Eric McClain and Willzhuan Yates line up at corner to secure the secondary for the Cardinals.
Why the Ball State Cardinals will win
- Purdue has lost each of its last 11 games.
- Purdue has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six games in Indiana.
- Ball State has covered the spread in four of its last five games against teams from Indiana.
Purdue Boilermakers Team Preview
The Purdue Boilermakers come into 2025 with a new voice at the helm with Barry Odom coming over from UNLV after turning the Rebels into a double-digit win team but needs to work a miracle after Purdue’s 1-11 record in 2024. It starts with QBs like Ryan Browne, a dual-threat transfer from Arizona State, who is expected to be lined up at QB1 to lead the offense, with freshman Marcos Davila waiting in the wings as a high-upside backup option. Running back Devin Mockobee, with 1918 career yards, seems to be the only returning Purdue starter, or at least that’s what it feels like, but will lineup alongside Illinois transfer Reggie Love III in the Boiler backfield. Wide receivers Jayden Dixon-Veal, CJ Smith, and Jaron Tibbs bring speed and playmaking to the new-look Boilermaker passing attack. Defensively, transfer linebacker Kydran Jenkins is expected to be the team’s top tackler, while defensive back Nyland Green strengthens the secondary.
Why the Purdue Boilermakers will win
- Ball State has lost each of its last nine road games against non-conference opponents.
- The favorite has won 13 of Purdue’s last 14 games.
- Ball State has failed to cover the spread in eight of its last nine road games against non-conference opponents.
- Purdue has covered the spread in seven of its last eight games as a favorite against teams from Indiana.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Ball State’s last seven games against opponents from the Big Ten Conference have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Seven of Purdue’s last eight home games against teams from Indiana have gone OVER the total points line.
Ball State Cardinals vs. Purdue Boilermakers Prediction
I’m going to lean towards Purdue here. I don’t love it, but I like Ball State even less. Purdue at least has a bit of a fire under their proverbial butts after riding the struggle bus last year, and I think there’s more than what Purdue had last year to at least turn things around. Ball State was a disaster last year and it somehow has gotten worse. I think this one’s like a 31-7 win for Purdue here. I’ll lay the points with the Boilermakers in this one.