| MATCHUP | Sacramento State Hornets | Ball State Cardinals |
|---|---|---|
| Team Records | 1-6 | 2-5 |
| Spread | +14.5 -110 | -14.5 -110 |
| Moneyline | +440 | -600 |
| Total | Over 51.5 (-102) | Under 51.5 (-118) |
| Where | Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, IN | |
| When | Saturday, October 24, 2026 | |
| Time | 03:30 PM EDT | |
| TV | ESPN+ | |
In this article, we will formulate a Sacramento State vs Ball State Prediction for this College Football Week 8 matchup on Saturday, October 24th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this College Football matchup.
Ball State Cardinals Preview
Ball State has a 2-5 record and a 1-2 record in the MAC. They are coming off a 32-31 road win against Bowling Green and will face Massachusetts and Buffalo next.
Offensively, Ball State averages 20.3 points per game, ranking 119th in the nation, while defensively, they allow 37.9 points per game, which is 135th. Ball State averages 326.1 total yards per game (190.9 passing and 135.3 rushing), while allowing 445.3 total yards per game (201.6 rushing and 243.7 passing).
Keldric Luster leads Ball State with 1,066 passing yards with 64.7% completed passes and 7 touchdowns. TJ Horton leads the team in rushing yards with 392, while Donovan Hamilton has a team-high 273 receiving yards and 22 receptions. Defensively, Sterling Smith has a team-high 37 total tackles (21 of them solo), while Ben Marsh and Layton Starks are tied for the team lead with 2 sacks each.
Sacramento State Hornets Preview
Sacramento State has a 1-6 record and a 0-4 record in the MAC. They are coming off a 7-48 home loss against Ohio and will face Kent State and Toledo next.
Offensively, Sacramento State averages 15 points per game, ranking 135th in the nation, while defensively, they allow 32.7 points per game, which is 126th. Sacramento State averages 302.7 total yards per game (195.1 passing and 107.6 rushing), while allowing 365.0 total yards per game (176.1 rushing and 188.9 passing).
Jackson Sharman leads Sacramento State with 1,070 passing yards with 55.5% completed passes and 6 touchdowns. Isaiah Ene leads the team in rushing yards with 246, while Matthew Coleman has a team-high 473 receiving yards and 36 receptions. Defensively, Boogsie Silvera has a team-high 50 total tackles (23 of them solo), while Fata Puloka leads the team with 1.5 sacks.
Sacramento State Hornets @ Ball State Cardinals Betting Trends: Week 8
Why the Ball State Cardinals will win
- Sacramento State has lost each of its last five games.
- Ball State has won each of its last seven games as a favorite.
- Ball State has covered the spread in each of its last seven home games in October.
- Sacramento State has failed to cover the spread in five of its last six games as an underdog.
- The home team has won the first quarter in eight of Ball State’s last nine games.
- The favorite has won the first half in each of Sacramento State’s last seven games.
Why the Sacramento State Hornets will win
- Ball State has lost seven of its last nine October games as a home favorite.
- The road team has won three of Sacramento State’s last four games.
- Ball State has failed to cover the spread in nine of its last 10 October games as a home favorite.
- The underdog has covered the spread in each of Ball State’s last three games.
- The road team has won the first quarter in each of Sacramento State’s last four games.
- Ball State has lost the first half in each of its last four October games as a home favorite.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of Ball State’s last nine games have gone OVER the total points line.
Ball State Cardinals Player Prop Facts
- Heading into Week 8, TJ Horton leads the Mid-American Conference for yards per carry (6.7) this season.
Sacramento State Hornets Player Prop Facts
- Heading into Week 8, Carson Conklin has the most pass attempts without a passing touchdown this season (46).
Matchup/League Facts
- Ball State has suffered the equal-most road losses by a margin of 10+ points of any FBS team this season (4).
- Ball State has suffered the equal-most road losses by a margin of 30+ points of any FBS team this season (3).
- Sacramento State has scored fewer than 10 points in three home games this season – most of any FBS team.
- Sacramento State ranks 138th among FBS teams for Q2 opponent points per game this season (15.9).
Sacramento State vs Ball State Prediction
In this Sacramento State vs Ball State prediction, Ball State is coming as -14.5 home favorites. Both teams have been bad this season, with Sacramento State having won only once and having failed to cover their last four games, while having the 4th-worst offense in the entire country and a -17.7 point differential. On the flip side, Ball State has a terrible defense but they have covered the spread in each of their last three games and in both of their home games this season. Sacramento State has given up 35+ points in four of their last five games and I don’t expect them to put much of a fight on the road. Take Ball State and lay the -14.5 in this one.