I think Wisky and Auburn are overhyped.. I think Ball State will be tough
No matter what I will watch every game..
Ball State is a "trap" game...A MAC team located between a very important B1G and regular-season opener and the white-out on national TV against a SEC opponent. They won the MAC last year and a bowl game against San Jose State. Anthlon picks them for #2 in the west and missing the MAC playoff despite returning 17 starters from last year's championship team.
The Cardinals claimed the program’s first MAC title since 1996 with a stunning 38-28 victory over Buffalo in the conference championship game last December and capped the year by beating San Jose State in the Arizona Bowl. With 17 starters returning, Ball State has a great shot to repeat as the MAC champion.
Previewing the Offense
Strength: The Cardinals can rely on the right arm of quarterback Drew Plitt, along with one of the MAC’s top duos at receiver Justin Hall and Yo’Heinz Tyler, to pilot an attack that averaged 34.2 points a game last season. All five starters return up front.
Concern: Pass protection (28 sacks allowed) has to improve, and the offense can be more explosive on a play-by-play basis (5.82 in 2020). The ground game averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in 2020.
Incoming Transfers: OL Damon Kaylor; WR Chayce Bishop; TE Casey Coll; WR Jayshon Jackson
Previewing the Defense
Strength: Coordinator Tyler Stockton has this defense on the right track after Ball State held teams to 25.8 points a game last year – down from 31.4 in 2019. This unit ranked fourth in the MAC versus the run and led the conference in takeaways (17). The Cardinals return the top linebacker unit in the conference.
Concern: Ball State cut its points allowed last year, but opposing offenses still averaged nearly six yards a snap (5.94) against this defense. The secondary was vulnerable to giving up a few big plays and top cornerback Antonio Phillips was one of the few players who departed after 2020.
After an unusual and abbreviated year, the MAC could be in for an unpredictable 2021 college football season. None of the league’s teams played more than eight
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