Time to unveil the crews predictions for the 2011 season. I’ll start.
Indiana 28 Ball State 20 – The Cardinals can win this game, but BSU will struggle in the trenches due to the size of Big 10 teams. Cardinals hang around, but IU wins.
South Florida 42 Ball State 20 – Some are predicting South Florida to win the Big East. We’ll learn a lot about them in their opener vs. ND. Ball State doesn’t get blown out, but never makes a big threat to win.
Ball State 31 Buffalo 13 – The first win of the Pete Lembo era comes at home to Buffalo. BSU beat the Bulls pretty good in Buffalo last year, and there’s no reason they can’t do it again.
Ball State 31 Army 27 – The Cardinals eek out a victory against the Black Knights, who won a bowl game last year. There is a lot of turnover from Army’s team last year, but they’ll still be competitive.
Oklahoma 52 Ball State 13 – OU is the best team in the nation, and not afraid to run it up. Ball State handles this game better than Iowa, but it would take more than OU to play awful, and BSU to play great to win.
Temple 27 Ball State 21 – The Owls are going no where. Bernard Pierce is back, as is much of that defense. Temple makes Ball State’s losing streak on homecoming 3.
Ohio 35 Ball State 23 – BSU gets the two top East teams in back to back weeks. The Cards hang around for while, but the Bobcats have too much for them at home.
Ball State 35 Central Michigan 17 – The Cardinals continue to have the Chips number, in another surprising lopsided victory.
Ball State 31 Western Michigan 28 – A last second Steven Schott field goal gives the Cardinals some revenge in Kalamazoo from last year pounding on homecoming.
Ball State 41 Eastern Michigan 24 – The Cardinals make it a clean sweep of Michigan with a dominating victory over Eastern, again exacting some revenge.
Northern Illinois 31 Ball State 27 – Ball State plays well, but don’t have enough to pull off the upset on the road.
Toledo 35 Ball State 20 – The Rockets don’t let the Cardinals jump out to an early 17-0 lead in this one, and knock the Cards bowl chances down the drain.
Final Record: 5-7 (3-5)
Keith Wenning 58% 2,600 yards 24TD 12INT
Cory Sykes 750yards 6TDs
Jack Tomlinson 67rec 1,100 9TDs
