The midweek MACtion slate returns with its third kickoff on Tuesday night from the state of Ohio. This Ball State vs. Toledo pick and prediction outlines just how much separation is needed to crown an eventual MAC winner this season. Tuesday’s game will go a long way in deciding the final standings of the conference in 2022.
Ball State vs. Toledo Betting Preview
- Spread
Toledo (-11.5) - Moneyline
Toledo (-425); Ball State (+340) - Over/Under
50.5 points - Game time
8 p.m. ET - Location
Glass Bowl, Toledo, OH - Predicted weather at kickoff
47 degrees, cloudy, 8-10 mph winds - How to watch
fuboTV, ESPN 2
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
- QB Dequan Finn, Toledo ($11,500)
- QB Tucker Gleason, Toledo ($10,000)
- QB John Paddock, Ball State ($7.700)
- RB Carson Steele, Ball State ($9,800)
- RB Jacquez Stuart, Toledo ($7,500)
- RB Peny Boone, Toledo ($6,400)
- RB Micah Kelly, Toledo ($4,900)
- RB Vaughn Pemberton, Ball State ($4,800)
- WR Jayshon Jackson, Ball State ($8,200)
- WR Jerjuan Newton, Toledo ($8,000)
- WR DeMeer Blankumsee, Toledo ($6,500)
- WR Yo’Heinz Tyler, Ball State ($6,100)
- WR Mikel Barkley, Toledo ($6,000)
- WR Devin Maddox, Toledo ($5,800)
- WR Amir Abdur-Rahman, Ball State ($5,500)
- WR Thomas Zsiros, Toledo ($5,000)
- TE Brady Hunt, Ball State ($7,000)
- TE Tanner Koziol, Ball State ($6,900)
- TE Jamal Turner, Toledo ($6,400)
- TE Lenny Kuhl, Toledo ($5,100)
- TE Anthony Torres, Toledo ($4,800)
Ball State’s playmakers are as exciting as you can find in the MAC. They have a boom-or-bust nature about their game, and Jayshon Jackson, Tanner Kozoil, Brady Hunt, and Amir Abdur-Rahman are each averaging over 10.0 yards per catch.
The veteran of the group is Yo’Heinz Tyler, and his value is always intriguing. However, it’s Jackson for Ball State if you are willing to grab a Ball State player despite Toledo’s defense ranking No. 1 in total yards allowed this season in the MAC.
For Toledo, the biggest question is if Dequan Finn goes. He’s in line for your superflex if you don’t roster Ohio’s Kurtis Rourke if he can play. Monitor that situation as you can and as it unfolds ahead of the game, leaving room on your roster if the talented dual-threat quarterback can go.
Tucker Gleason is a great lower-value option as well if he plays for Finn. He threw three touchdowns in his place two weeks ago.
On the ground, Carson Steele’s blonde locks have a good matchup on their hands. Despite Toledo rankings first in total defense, they have given up 19 touchdowns on the ground, tied for most in the conference. Steele is almost a lock to find the end zone.
Prediction for Ball State vs. Toledo
A perfect 4-0 from the Glass Bowl this season, Toledo will look to make it six in a row at home against Ball State. The Rockets had been flying high with Dequan Finn at the helm and didn’t seem to skip much of a beat with Tucker Gleason in his place against Eastern Michigan in Week 9.
Gleason passed for three touchdowns and averaged nearly nine yards per attempt in the victory. If Finn is able to go, the offensive gameplan does get tweaked a bit for the dual-threat signal-caller, but Gleason showed off some wheels as well two weeks ago.
Still, the offense for Toledo has a favorable matchup against Ball State’s defense that gives up the seventh-most yards per game in the conference. Ball State’s linebacking corps has been coming together in recent weeks, so if Finn does play, his legs will certainly need to be in top form.
Gleason’s ability to spot his receivers open over the middle of the field and deep will give him an advantage as the Ball State’s coverage unit’s biggest strength is on the outside. Cornerbacks Amechi Uzodinma II and Nic Jones give them as talented a CB duo as there is in the MAC.
Yet, as good of a battle as it will be to see either quarterback against Ball State’s defense, the biggest question mark is whether or not Ball State can actually move the ball against Toledo’s defense at all.
The Rockets rank first defensively in yards per play allowed (4.84), total yards allowed (3,127), and yards per game (347.4) in the MAC. Ball State can find some success but has been prone to big plays that go either way: deep passes or interceptions.
That kind of boom-or-bust nature (just look at their first play from scrimmage against Tennessee) will ultimately be the doom of them against Toledo.
Prediction: Toledo 27, Ball State 17