Redshirt
Matchup preview

Ball State vs Kent State

Ball State visit Kent State in Week 4. The model favors Kent State by 1.9. Win probability, the tale of the tape, and the all-time series, all from real data.

Win probability
45%
55%

Model win probability from SP+ ratings + home-field edge.

The read
Model analysis · September 23 · refreshed weekly

SP+ frames this as close to a coin flip: Ball State rates -24.3 (136th), Kent State -24.8 (137th), a half-point separation that yields a projected Kent State margin of 1.9 and a 55 percent home win probability. The unit ranks are equally packed, with all four sitting between 132 and 135. The market pushes the home side harder: the consensus line of Kent State -3.2 implies 58 percent, and ProphetX offers Kent State at -158 (61 percent) against Ball State +148 (40 percent). That gap between the model's 45 percent and the exchange's 40 percent on Ball State is where the daylight sits.

History leans the other way. Ball State holds the series 5-1 and took the last meeting in 2025, 17-13. Results this season are near mirror images: each lost badly at a Power opponent, each beat an FCS visitor (Ball State 41-17 over Stony Brook, Kent State 36-15 over Wofford), and both were routed at Ohio State. Season sims split the projections almost evenly at 4.2 and 4.1 wins, with no postseason equity on either side.

Two bottom-140 teams separated by half a rating point, with the market pricing Kent State steeper than the model or the series warrants.

Matchup odds
Consensus line · 2 books
Spread
KENT -3.2
Total (O/U)
50.8
Favorite
KENT
Moneyline win probability (implied from the spread)

Real consensus line across 2 sportsbooks. Spread and total are the current market number; the win probabilities are implied from the spread.

Matchup odds price history
The market to win this game · daily prices, colored by the favorite
Ball State40%+1 ptsvsKent State60%-1 pts
0%25%50%75%100%Ball State favoredKent State favoredSep 21Sep 22Sep 23

Real daily prices from the market to win this game, shown as Ball State's win price; Kent State's is 100 minus it (the same market's other side). Above the 50% line Ball State is favored, below it Kent State is, and each candle takes the favored team's color. Kalshi shows open-high-low-close candles (filled body closed up, hollow closed down). As of Sep 23.

Tale of the tape
Percentile vs FBS · 2025 stats, 2026 SP+
#136SP+SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.#137
#132FPIFPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.#133
1010EloElo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.1001
-Title oddsDe-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.-
Ball StateKent Statesolid = better, faded = trailing
What these metrics mean
SP+. SP+: Bill Connelly's tempo- and opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, expressed in points above average.
FPI. FPI: ESPN's Football Power Index, an overall measure of team strength.
Elo. Elo: a rating that rises or falls after each game based on the result and the quality of the opponent.
Title odds. De-vigged consensus probability to win the national title, averaged across the prediction markets we track.
Off PPA. PPA (Predicted Points Added): the average point value each play adds. Higher is better for offense, lower for defense.
Success. Success rate: the share of plays that stay on schedule (roughly 50% of needed yards on 1st down, 70% on 2nd, 100% on 3rd/4th). Higher is better.
Explosive. Explosiveness: the average value of a team's successful plays, i.e. how big its good plays are when they hit.
Yards/game. Total yards gained per game.
Success allowed. How often the defense allows an on-schedule play (enough yards for the down). Lower is better.
Havoc. Havoc rate: the share of plays where the defense makes a tackle for loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup.
Yards allowed. Total yards allowed per game. Lower is better.
Efficiency profile
Percentile vs FBS · 2025
Recent series
Ball State lead 5-1
Ball State have won the last 4
20182025
Head to head
Every meeting in our records
2025
17-13
Ball State
at Ball State
2024
37-35
Ball State
at Kent State
2023
34-3
Ball State
at Ball State
2022
27-20
Ball State
at Kent State
2019
41-38
Kent State
at Kent State
2018
52-24
Ball State
at Ball State
More Week 4 matchups
Model previews for the rest of the slate
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I trade the Ball State vs Kent State game?

Kalshi lists winner markets for college football games. Sign up with code FADE (trade $25, get up to $500), open the Ball State vs Kent State market when it posts, and buy YES on your side; the price in cents equals the market's implied win probability. You can sell before kickoff or settlement at the current price.

When do Ball State and Kent State play?

Week 4 of 2026, on Sep 26, 2026 at Kent State.

Who is favored?

The model projects Kent State by 1.9 (55% win probability), from SP+ ratings.

What is the all-time series?

Ball State lead 5-1 over the meetings in our records.

Full schedule → · Both teams' playoff odds, from 10,000 simulations →

Trade this game
Code VAULT: trade $10, get $20
ProphetX →