Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines for Vanderbilt vs Ball State

Vanderbilt is real, right?

Soon after beating Alabama, it beat Kentucky. Now it has a practice game before going up against Texas in Nashville. But can it avoid a surprise loss like the one at Georgia State a month ago?

Ball State beat a bad Kent State team in a strange and crazy game to get their first FBS win of the season.

Two of its next four games are at home, all in the MAC. On the plus side, it gets to play three of those four games at home, both against lower-ranked teams.

Vanderbilt vs Ball State Preview

Vanderbilt vs Ball State How to Watch
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024
Game Time: 7:00 pm ET
Venue: FirstBank Stadium, Nashville, TN
How to Watch: SEC Network ESPN
Vanderbilt (4-2), Ball State (2-4)

Why Ball State Will Win

How did Georgia State do it?

Vanderbilt beat Alabama, Kentucky, and Virginia Tech, and it put up a good fight against Missouri.

But on the road at Georgia Tech, the defense had a terrible day, and Vanderbilt lost. It gave up more than 400 yards twice this year, but only in the two losses. In the four wins, it gave up less than 400 yards.

Even though Ball State has some problems, the offense can throw the ball well and has enough pop to keep things going. Three times, the Cardinals have gone over 400 yards. Against Western Michigan, they went over 397 yards, and…

Why Vanderbilt Will Win

In both games, Ball State lost 62-0 to Miami and 63-7 to James Madison because they could not move the offense at all. The best scoring days were when they played MAC teams and Southwest Missouri State.

All four FBS teams ran for at least 461 yards, which the Cardinal defense has not been able to stop. Vanderbilt has been very smart so far because it knows how to be in charge.

The Commodores are second in the SEC and tenth in the country in completing third downs (51% of the time), and Ball State has not done anything to stop Diego Pavia.

It will look like Vanderbilt’s attack is always on the field, which is true.

Vanderbilt vs Ball State: Who Will Win

Ball State has trouble with that time of control thing. It is 13th in the country at controlling the ball, so it needs to own the clock, but it won’t.

Ball State’s offense will give Vanderbilt a bit of trouble in the first half, but Vanderbilt will not give up. In the second half, everything will work out for the Commodores.