2023 Ball State Cardinals Future Odds
Ball State's QB Layne Hatcher Could Lead Ball State to Bowl Game

The Ball State Cardinals took a step back last season. After earning two straight bowl games, Ball State finished 5-7 and missed a bowl game last year.
Mike Neu is entering his 8th year as head coach for the Cardinals. He’s gone 33-48 in his first seven seasons but has developed Ball State into a bowl contender every season.
After losing four of their last five games last year, the Cardinals hope to finish strong in 2023 with a revamped roster filled with talented transfers.
Take a look at the Ball State Cardinals future odds for the 2023 season.
Ball State Cardinals At A Glance
Odds to Win | Opening Odds | Current Odds |
National Championship | +1000000 | +1000000 |
Conference | +3000 | +3000 |
Regular Season Win Total | 4.5 (o-145, u+120) | 4.5 (o-145, u+120) |
To Make Playoffs (if applicable) | N/A | N/A |
Speed Kills
The Cardinals’ offense was not impressive last year. The offense did enough to stick around in games. However, this year, things feel a little bit different.
John Paddock went to Illinois, leaving a window for former Arkansas State and Texas State quarterback Layne Hatcher. Hatcher is a senior quarterback who transferred to Ball State for this season. He’s thrown over 2,000 yards in four straight seasons and will play for his third team in five years.
Hatcher finished with 19 touchdowns and ten interceptions with Texas State last season.
Meanwhile, Carson Steele also left Ball State to play for UCLA. He had 1,556 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Cardinals. But with the addition of Marqueez Cooper, the run game should still be electric. Cooper is already familiar with the MAC and earned 2,500 yards and 24 touchdowns in his last two seasons.
Cooper is one of the fastest players in the MAC and should help Ball State a lot in the run game this year.
The offense won’t be at the top in many, if any, NCAAF rankings. But as long as they can put up better numbers than last year, Ball State should have a chance at another bowl game this year.
Ball State Hoping for Development
The Ball State defense was subpar but not terrible last year. It’s difficult for defenses to perform at a high level against other MAC offenses. But Ball State held its own.
The Cardinals allowed 30 points or more, just one in their last seven games. However, they didn’t earn a bunch of takeaways or help the offense much.
However, there’s good news. Most of the defensive line is returning. If that line develops and improves, the pass rush should start to earn more quarterback hits and sacks. The secondary earned four interceptions in their last nine games. That pass rush needs to perform better this season.
National Championship Odds: Don’t Bet Ball State!
No matter how many NCAAF games Ball State wins, it’s almost impossible for the Cardinals to make the bowl game.
They’re not a Power 5 team. They play in the MAC. Ratings would be horrible, and people wouldn’t care if Ball State was in the Championship.
But if you genuinely want to see Ball State in the Championship, watch them face Georgia on September 9. That NCAAF score will be an absolute blowout.
Don’t be a fool and bet on the 2023 Ball State Cardinals future odds for a National Championship.
Conference Odds: Is Ball State A Good Upset Pick?
If anything else, Ball State’s beginning of their schedule could help them prepare for the MAC. The Cardinals play Kentucky and Georgia in their first two games.
The Cardinals were competitive last year. They were in mostly every game. They couldn’t execute in crunch time in the season’s final month.
Ball State has a low probability of earning a MAC Championship. But if any team has the most potential at the bottom of the league, it’s Ball State.
The Cardinals have a veteran quarterback in Layne Hatcher, who has earned at least 19 touchdowns every season. He’s also thrown for over 2,000 yards in every season.
Ball State will also have a defense that should improve, especially up front. With games against Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Bowling Green, and Kent State, the Cardinals could have success this season.
At +3000, there’s value on Ball State. They’ve made a bowl game in two of their last three seasons.
Regular Season Wins: Oddsmakers Are Being Disrespectful!
Ball State won’t win their first two games against Kentucky and Georgia. They’re not nearly an SEC-caliber team. But they’ll get Indiana State and Georgia Southern at home to finish their conference slate.
The Cardinals could be 2-2 heading into conference play.
Then they’ll play a conference slate with winnable games against Western Michigan and Kent State. It’s also likely that Ball State will win against one of the better teams in the MAC.
Ball State lost to Miami OH, Eastern Michigan, Toledo, and Western Michigan by one score. Yet, they still won five games.
After earning a bowl game in two of their last three games, Ball State has watched its win total drop to 4.5. The Cardinals have been more consistent than that. That’s disrespectful. The Over is the play here. The Ball State Cardinals future odds are low for their win total.
For NCAAF betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
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