The Ball State Cardinals take on the Purdue Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Indiana. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on Big Ten Network.
Purdue is favored by -16.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -800. The total is set at 48.5 points.
Here’s my Ball State vs. Purdue predictions and college football picks for Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Ball State vs Purdue Prediction: Who Will Win, Cover The Spread?
- Ball State vs. Purdue Pick: Purdue -17.5
My Purdue vs. Ball State best bet is on Purdue spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Ball State vs Purdue Odds
| Ball State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+16.5 -105 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | +525 |
| Purdue Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-16.5 -115 | 48.5 -110o / -110u | -800 |
- Ball State vs Purdue point spread: Purdue -16.5
- Ball State vs Purdue over/under: 48.5 points
- Ball State vs Purdue moneyline: Ball State +525, Purdue -800
Ball State vs Purdue Picks and best Bets
I'm not going to suggest Purdue as a formidable Big Ten team this season, but we're not asking it to beat a conference opponent in this spot. Instead, we're asking it to beat one of the very worst teams in FBS, one with an atrocious defense that didn't get any better via the portal.
If you dive into the defensive metrics for Ball State in 2024, it surrendered conversions on 49% of third downs, allowed 44 red-zone scores in 45 opportunities and gave up 11 plays of 50 yards or more. The Cardinals give up way too many explosives.
Also, they had 20 sacks last year as a unit, but seven of them came against Kent State. Outside of that, they didn't create enough havoc or enough of a pass rush.
We're going to see motivation from Purdue, too. Barry Odom comes in as head coach, and he has a significant history of pounding lesser opponents when he was at Missouri and UNLV.
Purdue only has Southern Illinois on deck, so it can build a little program excitement and some momentum before Big Ten play.
If you look at Purdue's roster from top to bottom, it's so much more talented than Ball State.
The Cardinals are implementing a new run-first offense, and they're going to run the quarterback a little bit. I worry about Kiael Kelly staying healthy, though, as his smaller frame can make him susceptible when taking hits.
Also, another positive for the Boilermakers is their portal additions were stacked, including CJ Nunnally Jr., Tony Grimes, Tahj Ra-El and Mani Powell.
They should be able to piece together a defense that will be able to limit and contain what Ball State wants to do.
Purdue has motivation to start off on the right foot and an inferior opponent. If any team has to put up a big number, it's the Boilermakers, and I think they win by three or four touchdowns.
Pick: Purdue -17.5
