Ohio vs Ball State Prediction 1/16/2026 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Ball State Cardinals and the Ohio Bobcats will meet on Friday night in a MAC matchup at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana.

Ball State Cardinals Betting Preview

The Ball State Cardinals enter Friday’s contest with a 4–13 overall record, including an 0–5 mark in conference play and a 3-4 record at home. Ball State has compiled wins over teams such as Mansfield, Louisiana and Le Moyne while losing games to Wisconsin, Little Rock, Indiana State and South Dakota. More recently, in the Massachusetts Minutemen’s 79-71 victory over the Ball State Cardinals earlier this month, Ball State forward Preston Copeland amassed 12 points (4 of 4 shooting from the field) and 5 rebounds showcasing his ability to be a strong presence in the paint.   

The Ball State Cardinals are averaging 65.3 points on 40.1 percent shooting from the field and 30.5 percent shooting from three-point range per game. Defensively, the Cardinals are allowing opponents 74.7 points per contest.

Sophomore guard Davion Hill leads the Ball State Cardinals averaging 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1 steal per game. Junior guard Joey Hart provides the Cardinals with further backcourt depth averaging 9 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1 assist and 0.5 steals per contest. Senior forward Cam Denson adds 4.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.5 blocks per game.

Ohio Bobcats Betting Preview

The Ohio Bobcats enter Friday’s matchup with a 10–8 overall record, including a 4–2 mark in conference play and a 2–3 record on the road. The Bobcats have compiled wins over Buffalo, Central Michigan, Marshall and Maine, while dropping games to Toledo, Bowling Green and the Loyola Marymount Lions. In the Ohio Bobcats 91-80 win over the Buffalo Bulls, Ohio forward Aidan Hadaway tallied 27 points (11 of 17 shooting from the field: 3 of 6 shooting from three-point range), 10 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.  

The Ohio Bobcats are averaging 76.3 points on 46.1 percent shooting from the field and 29.3 percent shooting from beyond the arc per game. Defensively, the Bobcats are allowing opponents 79.7 points per contest which ranks a dreadful 285th in the country.

Senior guard Jackson Paveletzke leads the Ohio Bobcats with 17.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Forward Aidan Hadaway contributes 13.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1 block per contest, anchoring the frontcourt for the Bobcats. Junior forward Javan Simmons averages 13.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

Why the Ball State Cardinals Will Win

•             Defensive edge. The Ball State Cardinals are allowing opponents 74.7 points per contest. Conversely, the Ohio Bobcats are allowing 79.7 points per contest.

•             Quality guard play. Sophomore guard Davion Hill leads the Ball State Cardinals averaging 11.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1 steal per game.

•           Home court advantage. The Ball State Cardinals have been more competitive at home (3–4) compared to on the road (0-8) in 2025.

Why the Ohio Bobcats Will Win

•           Offensive edge. The Ohio Bobcats are averaging 76.3 points per game. The Ball State Cardinals are averaging just 65.3 points per contest.

•           Momentum. The Bobcats have won five of the team’s last six games played this season.

•           Frontcourt play. Forward Aidan Hadaway contributes 13.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1 block per contest.

Ball State Cardinals vs. Ohio Bobcats Prediction

This matchup features Ohio’s offensive efficiency and balanced scoring against a Ball State team that has struggled to generate consistent stops all season. The Bobcats’ ability to score at all three levels, combined with their recent momentum and perimeter shooting, gives them a clear statistical edge. With that said, I like the Ohio Bobcats to cover the –3.5 points in tomorrow’s game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: Ohio Bobcats -3.5