Get ready for a Mid-American battle as the Western Michigan Broncos and the Ball State Cardinals will face off at 6 p.m. ET on Friday at University Arena in Read Fieldhouse. Western Michigan is 8-22 overall and 4-9 at home, while Ball State is 13-16 overall and 3-9 on the road. Ball State held serve at home with an 83-72 win over Western Michigan at the end of January.
The Cardinals are favored by 3.5-points in the latest Western Michigan vs. Ball State odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over-under is set at 144.5. Before entering any Ball State vs. Western Michigan picks, you'll want to see the college basketball predictions from the proven computer model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated an impressive profit of over $1,700 for $100 players on its top-rated college basketball picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Western Michigan vs. Ball State. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several college basketball odds for Western Michigan vs. Ball State:
- Western Michigan vs. Ball State spread: Western Michigan +3.5
- Western Michigan vs. Ball State over-under: 144.5 points
What you need to know about Western Michigan
Western Michigan got off to a terrible start this season, going 4-20 (0-13 MAC) through its first 24 games. The Broncos are now playing their best basketball of the season, winning four of their last six contests. They are coming off consecutive road wins, beating Bowling Green and Eastern Michigan.
Junior guard Lamar Norman Jr. has been the leader this season, averaging 20.1 points per game. Sophomore forward Markeese Hastings is adding 8.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest, while sophomore guard B. Artis White is coming off back-to-back double-digit outings. The Broncos have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games.
What you need to know about Ball State
Ball State is seeking consistency, as it has alternated between wins and losses over its last five games. The Cardinals picked up a win over Eastern Michigan last Saturday before losing to Akron on Tuesday. They recorded an 83-72 win against Western Michigan at the end of January, so they have an opportunity to complete a season sweep on Friday night.
Freshman center Payton Sparks paces a balanced lineup with 13.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. He is joined in double figures by Tyler Cochran, Miryne Thomas and Luke Bumbalough. The Cardinals have won five of their last six games against Western Michigan, covering the spread in four of those wins.
How to make Ball State vs. Western Michigan picks
The model has simulated Western Michigan vs. Ball State 10,000 times and the results are in. We can tell you that the model is leaning over, and it's also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Ball State vs. Western Michigan? And which side of the spread hits well over 50 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out, all from the model that has crushed its college basketball picks.
