Tonight the undefeated Ball State Cardinals and the 7-5 Buffalo Bulls will fight it out for the MAC Championship at Ford Field in Detroit, MI. The Game is scheduled to kick off at 8:00pm ET and can be seen on ESPN 2. The Cardinals have not played for the MAC title since the 1996 season; this is Buffalo's first opportunity to win a conference title. MAC Championship betting odds at Sportsbook.com have Ball State listed as a -15 favorite.
Ball State Head Coach Brady Hoke has led his squad to the best record and first undefeated season in school history at 12-0. The Cardinals have been a powerhouse all year long, but it took a while for anyone to notice. The lack of recognition has possibly cost them a chance at being this season's BCS busting school. Despite the Cardinals number 12 BCS ranking, there are three non-BCS schools ranked ahead of them (Utah Utes, Boise State Broncos, and TCU Horned Frogs).
Should Ball State win tonight, they will probably be headed to the GMAC Bowl on January 6th to face the second place Conference USA finisher or the Motor City Bowl on December 26th to square off against the number seven finisher in the Big Ten.
The Cardinals are led by outstanding junior quarterback Nate Davis and junior running back MiQuale Lewis. Davis has passed for 3095 yards and 25 touchdowns on his way to a 169.3 passer rating. Lewis has been an excellent compliment, rushing for 1570 yards (5.7 yards per carry) and scoring 20 touchdowns.
The Buffalo Bulls, while not sporting the record breaking numbers of the Cardinals, are a Cinderella story in their own right. Head Coach Turner Gill, in just his third year with the program, has transformed the Bulls into a competitive, hard nosed squad and the football program into a relevant presence in the MAC. In the three seasons prior to Gill's arrival, the Bulls garnered just four wins; they have amassed 14 wins during his tenure.
Buffalo secured their first MAC division title this season by going 5-3 in conference play and finishing the year with a 7-5 mark. Regardless of tonight's outcome, Buffalo will be participating in a bowl game for the first time since becoming an FBS school back in 1999.
The Bulls offense, led by senior quarterback Drew Willy (141.3 passer rating), is averaging 30.2 ponts per game this year.
MAC Championship Game Betting Trend: The Buffalo Bulls are 1-9 straight up as an underdog with a total of 54.5 or more.
Sportsbook.com's Ball State vs Buffalo MAC Championship Betting Odds:
Ball State Cardinals -15 (-105), Over 62 (-110), -650 (Money line)
Buffalo Bulls +15 (-105), Under 62 (-110), +475 (Money line)
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