South Dakota State vs Ball State Prediction 12/9/2025 Today’s College Basketball Picks

The Ball State Cardinals and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits will meet on Tuesday evening in a non‑conference matchup at John E. Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana.

Ball State Cardinals Betting Preview

The Ball State Cardinals enter Tuesday night’s contest with a 3–6 win‑loss record, including a 2–2 mark at home. The Cardinals have compiled wins over Louisiana, Mansfield, and Le Moyne, while dropping games to Wisconsin, Little Rock, Indiana State, Monmouth, Lafayette, and Evansville. In the Ball State Cardinals 96–85 win over the Le Moyne Dolphins nine days ago, Ball State guard Juwan Maxey tallied 27 points on 8 of 17 shooting from the field and 7 of 14 shooting from three-point range.

The Ball State Cardinals average 62.8 points per game on 38.6 percent shooting from the field and 31.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc per contest. Defensively, the Cardinals are allowing opponents 71.5 points on 46.3 percent shooting from the field per game.

Junior guard Armoni Zeigler leads the Ball State Cardinals averaging 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals per game, providing the Cardinals with steady scoring and perimeter defense. Sophomore guard Davion Hill adds 11.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1 steal per game, while senior guard Devon Barnes contributes 8.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.

South Dakota State Jackrabbits Betting Preview

The South Dakota State Jackrabbits enter Tuesday’s matchup with a 5–5 record, including a 2–1 mark on the road. The Jackrabbits have compiled wins over Merrimack, Dakota State, Peru State, Georgia State, and Northern Arizona, while dropping games to Northern Iowa, Oregon, Utah Valley, UC Irvine, and the Idaho Vandals. In the South Dakota State Jackrabbits 75–62 win over Northern Arizona earlier this month, South Dakota State guard Joe Sayler tallied 20 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

South Dakota State averages 70.9 points on 43.3 percent shooting from the field and 29.8 percent shooting from three‑point range per game. The Jackrabbits are allowing opponents 70.9 points per game.

Sophomore guard Joe Sayler leads the South Dakota State Jackrabbits averaging 12.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, providing the Jackrabbits with consistent perimeter scoring. Sophomore guard Jaden Jackson adds 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game. Junior guard Kalen Garry is averaging 7.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game, while sophomore center Damon Wilkinson anchors the paint with 11.3 points, 6 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game.

Why the Ball State Cardinals Will Win

•            Home court advantage. Worthen Arena provides a boost. The Ball State Cardinals are 2-2 at home this season.

•            Quality guard play. Ball State guards Armoni Zeigler and Davion Hill can generate offense.

Why the South Dakota State Jackrabbits Will Win

•            Efficient offense. Through 10 games played in the 2025 season, the Jackrabbits are averaging shooting 43.3 percent from the field per game.

•            Guard depth. Joe Sayler and Jaden Jackson provide quality backcourt play.

•            Defensive edge. The South Dakota State Jackrabbits are allowing opponents just 70.9 points per game.

Ball State vs. South Dakota State Prediction

This matchup features the Ball State Cardinals defensive identity against the South Dakota State Jackrabbits balanced offense. Look for Ball State to lean on Zeigler and Hill to generate scoring opportunities, while the Jackrabbits will look to Sayler and Jackson to control tempo and pace. Ball State’s ability to contest shots and limit second‑chance points should keep them competitive in this matchup.

In my view, I fully expect South Dakota State to secure a road win behind Sayler’s perimeter scoring and Jackson’s versatility, while Ball State’s defense keeps the margin narrow. I am backing the South Dakota State Jackrabbits to cover the 6.5 points in this game.

Hans Geevers's Pick: South Dakota State -6.5