The Line
Some books opened this line with Ball State set as low as -15.5, but it's since moved up to 17 or 17.5 at most betting shops. The early total is 54.5.
Ball State turning up intensity
After picking up their ninth straight win, the Cardinals are beginning to slip into BCS conversations. Ball State could be a dark horse selection for either the Orange Bowl or Sugar Bowl if Boise State and Utah fall out of favor.
With that in mind, the Cards' defense has turned the dial up to BCS wattage. They've allowed an average of 302.6 yards and 11.4 points over their last five games, including an impressive effort against Northern Illinois last week.
Ball State gave up 14 points on 275 total yards with just 62 of those yards in the first half. It collected two sacks and picked off one pass in the 45-14 victory as an 8-point favorite. However, Cardinals coach Brady Hoke is still asking for more from his team knowing that bowl season will demand a better performance.
"The 275 yards and 14 points, those would be acceptable, but if we want to win a championship those aren't acceptable," Hoke told the Star-Press.
"I'm pretty demanding on how I think the game should be played,” he said.
The most the team has allowed over the last five contests is 20 points to Kent State Sept. 27. The Cardinals’ most impressive stand was a 31-0 shutout of Toledo Week 6 in which they gave up just 157 total yards to the Rockets.
Injured QB a blessing for Redhawks?
Everyone gasps when the starting quarterback goes down with an injury. But in the case of Miami-Ohio, an injury to freshman QB Clay Belton may be for the better with Ball State waiting on the schedule.
Belton left in the fourth quarter of the Redhawks’ loss to Buffalo last week and is out for this Tuesday's tilt with an undisclosed upper body injury. That puts the ball in the hands of junior Daniel Raudabaugh, who leads the team in passing with over 1,200 yards.
Miami head coach Shane Montgomery told reporters that having an upperclassman behind center against the Cardinals defense is a smarter decision.
"He doesn't make many mental mistakes," Montgomery told the Oxford Press. "It's good, with Clay going down, to have a guy who's played a lot.”
Raudabaugh started the first six games of the season but completed more passes to defenders than to teammates. He's thrown for four touchdowns and five interceptions. He came in versus the Bulls when Belton went down, passing for 63 yards on 8-for-14 completions.
Belton has compiled 639 yards through the air with two touchdowns and three picks. The freshman took a hard shot in the ribs during last Tuesday's game and was nursing a banged-up shoulder heading in. Sophomore Mike Scherpenberg will be the backup Tuesday night.
The Redhawks have the ninth-ranked passing offense in the MAC and have found the end zone just six times through the air this season.
Johnson stepping up for Cards
A spinal injury to Ball State receiver Dante Love was one of the scariest moments of the college football season. The senior was carted off the field against Indiana in Week 4 and made his first public appearance last week.
In Love's absence, fellow senior Louis Johnson has stepped up as one of the team's top weapons. He's caught 15 balls for over 300 yards – 165 of those yards coming against Northern Illinois last Wednesday. Johnson had a career day versus the Huskies adding a touchdown to his impressive stat sheet.
Johnson was Ball State's go-to guy last season. He averaged over 24 yards per catch on 17 receptions, but was bumped down to the third option this year with Love and freshman Briggs Orsbon getting regular looks.
In the past three games, Johnson has reeled in 13 receptions for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Before that he caught just five passes for 30 total receiving yards.
Redhawks setting new goals
A disappointing loss to Buffalo last week officially eliminated the Redhawks from conference title contention.
But with the 18th ranked Cardinals coming to Oxford, Coach Montgomery is treating this East vs. West MAC matchup as the team's title game.
"Most of the goals we set this year are unattainable," Montgomery admitted to reporters, "but as long as we've got some games left, we've got motivation ... We have a lot to play for (against Ball State). It's a chance to be on national TV and a chance to improve as a football team. By the time we hit the field next Tuesday we'll realize how big of a game this us."
Miami would relish the role of spoiler, taking the Cardinals out of the BCS bowl hunt. It edged Ball State with a 14-13 win last year with a rushing touchdown in the final minute of the game.
The Redhawks have won seven of the last 10 meeting straight up with a 5-5 mark against the spread.