Kentucky vs. Ball State Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 2

Updated Sep. 2, 2023 9:05 a.m. ET

Data Skrive

The Ball State Cardinals (0-0) will look to defy oddsmakers when they play the Kentucky Wildcats (0-0) on Saturday, September 2, 2023 as an overwhelming 26.5-point underdog. The point total is 49.

Last year the Wildcats lost the Music City Bowl after finishing 7-6 during the regular season. Offensively, they averaged 20.4 points per game (112th in college football), and they conceded 19.2 per game (11th in college football) defensively. The Cardinals scored 23.3 points per game (99th in college football) and conceded 26.9 (70th) last year, finishing 5-7 and failing to make the postseason.

Kentucky vs. Ball State Game Information & Odds

When: Saturday, September 2, 2023 at 12:00 PM ET
Location: Kroger Field in Lexington, Kentucky
TV: SEC Network
Live boxscore on FOX Sports

Kentucky vs Ball State Betting Information updated as of September 2, 2023, 8:46 AM ET.
Favorite	Spread (Odds)	Favorite Moneyline	Underdog Moneyline	Total	Over Moneyline	Under Moneyline
Kentucky	-26.5 (-110)	-5753	+1617	49	-108	-112

Kentucky vs. Ball State Prediction

Pick ATS: Ball State (+26.5)
Pick OU: Under (49)
Prediction: Kentucky 33, Ball State 13

Learn more about the Kentucky Wildcats vs. the Ball State Cardinals game on FOX Sports!

Kentucky vs. Ball State Betting Insights

Based on the spread and over/under, the implied score for the game is Wildcats 38, Cardinals 11.
The Wildcats have a 98.3% chance to claim victory in this meeting based on the moneyline's implied probability. The Cardinals have a 5.8% implied probability.
Kentucky won eight games against the spread last season, failing to cover five times.
Ball State won six games against the spread last year, failing to cover six times.

Kentucky vs. Ball State: 2022 Stats Comparison

	Kentucky	Ball State
Off. Points per Game (Rank)	20.4 (107)	23.3 (100)
Def. Points per Game (Rank)	19.2 (16)	26.9 (59)
Turnovers Allowed (Rank)	19 (74)	21 (98)
Turnovers Forced (Rank)	16 (84)	15 (96)

Kentucky 2022 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Will Levis	QB	2,406 YDS (65.4%) / 19 TD / 10 INT -103 RUSH YDS / 2 RUSH TD / -7.9 RUSH YPG
Christopher Rodriguez Jr.	RB	904 YDS / 6 TD / 69.5 YPG / 5.2 YPC
Barion Brown	WR	50 REC / 628 YDS / 4 TD / 48.3 YPG
Dane Key	WR	37 REC / 519 YDS / 6 TD / 39.9 YPG
J.J. Weaver	OLB	44 TKL / 3.0 TFL / 3.0 SACK
Jordan Wright	OLB	45 TKL / 5.0 TFL / 2.0 SACK / 1 INT
Trevin Wallace	LB	46 TKL / 4.0 TFL / 1.5 SACK / 2 INT
Keidron Smith	DB	42 TKL / 1.0 TFL / 2 INT / 3 PD

Ball State 2022 Key Players

Name	Position	Stats
Carson Steele	RB	1,591 YDS / 14 TD / 132.6 YPG / 5.5 YPC 28 REC / 163 REC YDS / 1 REC TD / 13.6 REC YPG
John Paddock	QB	2,693 YDS (59.6%) / 18 TD / 14 INT
Jayshon Jackson	WR	74 REC / 829 YDS / 3 TD / 69.1 YPG
Brady Hunt	TE	46 REC / 498 YDS / 5 TD / 41.5 YPG
Cole Pearce	LB	56 TKL / 9.0 TFL / 5.0 SACK / 1 INT
Jaquan Amos	S	64 TKL / 5.0 TFL / 0.5 SACK / 1 INT
Clayton Coll	LB	57 TKL / 0.0 TFL / 2.0 SACK
Sidney Houston Jr.	OLB	39 TKL / 4.0 TFL / 4.0 SACK