Both teams might start a relative newcomer at QB: Andy Roesch for Ball State and Kent Smith for CMU. Vickers will have to earn the starting role this week...

...when CMU has the ball, we should be successful at what we do best: pounding the ball upfield :D . BSU has a smallish DL and a smaller LB corp (Rover: 5'11", 190lb; Hawk: 6'3", 198lb; MLB: 5'11", 193lb; WLB: 6'2", 210lb.), but the unit is reportedly fast. The secondary is also small. IMO, stay away from the outside runs, keep it between the tackles, and force them to stop us. I'd run Mixon and Jackson about equally. If Vickers or Kent can victimize a Ball State D stacked against the run even a couple times early, we'll be in business. I look for us to hit the TEs over the middle at least a couple times against the smaller defenders. Ball State is #8 in the MAC in scoring defense, as opposed to the #1 UT squad we just faced, so expect a good outing on this side of the ball. B)

Defensively, since Ball State has a worse passing offense than CMU, we should be able to focus on stuffing Merriweather. With our pass rush looking respectable and Ball State yielding 2.4 sacks/contest, our secondary just needs to play decently, and we should be OK. Ball State averages just under 330 yards/game...

Does anyone know how healthy Anthony Tyus and Darvin Lewis are? They're still listed at #2 on the two-deep. How about Bill Brookshire?

CMU is favored by 3 1/2, or was this morning, and the last two games have been close, with Testicle Tech winning both contests 38-34. This is the season we get over the hump against these guys... :saber: