Ball State vs. Buffalo U

                                                                                         

Cardinals -14 1/2 vs. Bulls

By now everyone knows about the phenomenal season that the Ball State Cardinals have achieved. However, if one was to ask a Mid-American Conference pundit before the season to pick which was more likely that Ball State would go undefeated all the way to the MAC Championship game or that Buffalo would win the East and go to that same game in Detroit, it's a safe bet that pundit would pick Ball State's seemingly unpredictable season over Buffalo's.

Buffalo will play for the MAC Championship Friday night at Ford Field in Detroit, while Ball State will play for so much more.

The Bulls (7-5, 5-3) won the school's first division title and clinched the school's first bowl game. The team moved up to Division I-A (now Football Bowl Subdivision) in 1999 and have been pretty awful most of their time there. Over the last 14 games, spanning two seasons, Buffalo has gone 9-5 within the MAC, which is an incredible improvement over the 10 games won in the league in the teams first seven seasons in FBS.

All is not totally rosy for the Buffalo Bulls, however, as they lost last Friday night 24-21 to Kent State. The loss put an end to a five-game winning streak for Buffalo. Much of their success can be attributed to their running attack led by James Starks, who is sixth in the nation with 122.6 yards per game. The junior has now rushed for 1000 yards for a second straight season. Coupled with the pass, the offense is averaging 30.2 points per contest, but will be in for a touch matchup with Ball State's defense which surrenders only 16.7 per game.

While their defense has helped, it has been the offense that has gotten Ball State (12-0, 8-0) here. Winners of the MAC's West division, the Cardinals look to win their first MAC title since 1996. With two more victories the Cardinals will have achieved an undefeated season. That may be the best distinction they will have to claim as a victory over a heavy underdog more than likely will not spur them into a BCS bowl invitation. Under BCS rules, only one non-BCS school is allowed to go to a BCS game and three (Utah, Boise State and TCU) are ranked higher than the 12th ranked Cardinals.

With a win, Ball State's most likely destination is where they will be Friday: Detroit for the Motor City Bowl, while Buffalo will go to another game with MAC tie-ins. If they lose, Buffalo goes to the Motor City Bowl and Ball State will find themselves either in the GMAC or International Bowl.

Buffalo has yet to beat Ball State in four tries and is 0-8 versus ranked opponents since moving up to the FBS in 1999.

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