Western Michigan @ Ball State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2015 ) Ball State 7, Western Michigan 54

No. 18 Western Michigan looks to keep hopes of an undefeated season and a trip to a major bowl game alive when it visits Ball State on Tuesday in a Mid-American Conference contest. The experienced Broncos, who have not won by fewer than 14 points since a 22-21 season-opening victory over Northwestern, are winners of 10 straight games overall and stand 8-0 for the first time since 1941.

The trio of senior quarterback Zach Terrell, junior running back Jarvion Franklin and senior receiver Corey Davis continue to put up big numbers for Western Michigan, which had to rally from a first-half deficit to defeat Eastern Michigan 45-31 on Oct. 22 in its last contest. Ball State has lost four games, but the Cardinals gave Central Michigan all it could handle in a 24-21 loss on Oct. 8 while sophomore running back James Gilbert rushed for more than 100 yards in four straight contests. The Broncos rolled over Ball State 54-7 last season in Kalamazoo, Mich., but Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck told reporters his team is going to get everybody’s “best shot” the rest of the way. “We have an enormous challenge on Tuesday night,” Fleck said, “and our players understand that.”

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Western Michigan -18.5

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN (8-0, 4-0 MAC): Terrell is five short of 2,000 yards passing for the season and has completed 72.2 percent of his attempts with 20 touchdown strikes as opposed to one interception. Davis, who boasts 4,524 yards receiving in his career (739 in 2016) leads a talented trio of senior pass catchers with 49 receptions while Michael Henry has hauled in 40 and Carrington Thompson 26. Franklin rushed for 909 yards and seven scores to key the ground attack and junior linebacker Robert Spillane leads a defense, which gives up 19.3 points per game, with 71 tackles.

ABOUT BALL STATE (4-4, 1-3): Gilbert is 13 short of 1,000 yards rushing for the season and leads the MAC in touchdowns on the ground with 11 – eight in the last four games. Quarterback Riley Neal is second on the team in rushing with 314 yards and boasts another 1,700 passing, but the sophomore has thrown five interceptions in the last three games (nine overall). Junior defensive end Anthony Winbush (six sacks), senior linebacker Sean Wiggins (team-best 69 tackles) and senior safety Corey Hall lead a Cardinals' defense that must step up after allowing a season-high 35 points to Akron on Oct. 22.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Terrell boasts 83 career TD passes, one behind Ben Roethlisberger for eighth and two shy of Bruce Gradkowski for seventh in MAC history.

2. Ball State’s senior WR KeVonn Mabon owns 209 career receptions and needs five to move past Briggs Orsbon for third on the school’s all-time list.

3. Franklin is second in school history with 36 rushing touchdowns – three behind Jerome Persell (1976-78).

PREDICTION: Western Michigan 45, Ball State 21