- Kentucky vs Ball State goes down in CFB Week 1 on Saturday, September 2nd
- North Carolina State transfer quarterback Devin Leary debuts for the Wildcats
- Read below for Kentucky vs Ball State prediction and odds for Week 1
The first Saturday of the 2023 college football season features a Week 1 matchup between the Kentucky Wildcats and the Ball State Cardinals on September 2nd at Kroger Field. The game is set to start at 12:00 PM ET and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
The betting odds are heavily in favor of Kentucky, with a spread of -26.5 and an over/under of 49.5 points. Oddsmakers are projecting the Wildcats to win over the Cardinals by an approximate 37-11 score in the debut of new quarterback Devin Leary.
Let’s dive deeper into the Kentucky vs Ball State odds and offer you our prediction for this Week 1 college football clash.
Kentucky vs Ball State Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State | +26.5 (-110) | +1700 | Over 49 (-108) |
| Kentucky | -26.5 (-110) | -4500 | Under 49 (-112) |
In the Ball State vs Kentucky odds, the Wildcats are -4500 moneyline favorites, giving them a 76% implied win probability. On the other hand, the Cardinals come back as +1700 underdogs, giving them a 5.56% implied win probability.
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Leary Takes Over for Levis
The big story surrounding the Kentucky Wildcats following their 7-6 season last year is the departure of talented quarterback Will Levis to the NFL. Fortunately, they bring in a talented QB transfer from NC State in Devin Leary, who threw for 1,265 yards and 11 touchdowns with 4 interceptions in 2022.
Kentucky’s defense was its biggest strength last season, allowing just 19.2 points and 311 yards per game. The Wildcats’ secondary was seventh-best in the country but must overcome the loss of three starters. The defensive line loses leader Justin Rogers, but North Carolina transfer Keeshawn Silver should help fill the void.
Kentucky has LOADED UP using the transfer portal 😳
NC State QB Devin Leary
Cincinatti CB JQ Hardaway
Ohio State DB Jantzen Dunn
Vanderbilt RB Ray Davis
UNC DT Keeshawn Silver
USC OT Courtland Ford
Ohio State OL Ben Christman
Alabama OL Tanner Bowles
NIU OT Marques Cox
NIU ILB… pic.twitter.com/Vn7qE9mfrF— Kentucky Kavalry #BBN (@KentuckyKavalry) May 15, 2023
There’s no doubt Devin Leary will be able to sling the rock, but there’s concern about the team’s running game after it averaged just 116.2 yards per game last season. Chris Rodriguez is off to the NFL, but UK has brought in Vanderbilt transfer Ray Davis, who went off for over 1,000 yards and five scores in 2022.
The main reason to be optimistic about Kentucky’s offense is their returning young receivers. Even though the team had the third-worst passing offense in the SEC, the Wildcats return all five of their top receivers, including a lethal tight-end combination of Jordan Dingle and Josh Kattus.
Cardinals Offense Struggles to Take Flight
Ball State is coming off a 5-7 campaign in the Mid-American Conference where they struggled to score points. The Cardinals managed just 23.3 points a game, which placed them in the bottom half of the Group of 5.
Former starting QB John Paddock transferred to Illinois, so the Cardinals have brought in veteran quarterback Layne Hatcher from Texas State. During the 2022 campaign, he had 2,653 yards and 19 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.
"All I want to be is the hardest working guy in the room." – (@LayneHatcher)
Quarterback Layne Hatcher is ready to help elevate the Cardinals this fall 🏈
See Layne and the Cardinals play this fall by securing your tickets: https://t.co/pU5zIiXU4i 🎟#1AAT x #WeFly pic.twitter.com/0nCZy6U0cv
— Ball State Football (@BallStateFB) July 26, 2023
Ball State’s ground game is getting a big boost with the arrival of Kent State transfer Marquez Cooper, who ran for over 2,500 yards and 24 touchdowns over the last two seasons. It also helps that the Cardinals return three starters on the offensive line.
Defensively, the Cardinals’ defense performed well enough to keep them in games. Ball State’s defense surrendered 26.9 points per game last year but now must replace their entire secondary. The team also only managed seven interceptions and needs to do a better job of forcing turnovers.
Kentucky vs Ball State Prediction
Kentucky vs Ball State might not be the most-watched college football Week 1 game on Saturday, but there’s some betting value to be found, especially pertaining to the over/under. We like taking the “over” of 49 points, with UK’s quarterback Leary primed for a big debut.
Ball State got torched through the air last season, and the Wildcats return their top five receivers who should all improve with another year of experience. Running back Ray Davis should also find holes against a Cardinals’ defensive front that is experienced but lacks notable talent.
Ball State is 0-8 SU in their last eight games against SEC teams, and we don’t see them being able to slow down this Kentucky offense. On the flip side, however, Cardinals’ QB Hatcher has enough talent to keep this game from getting too out of hand.
The key trend you need to know here is that the total has gone “over” in eight of Kentucky’s last 10 games played in Week 1. Leary is one of the most underrated players in college football and look for him to ball out in front of the home fans in Lexington on Saturday.
- Kentucky vs Ball State Pick: Over 49 Points (-110)
The post Kentucky vs Ball State Prediction, Odds & Spread appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
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