{"id":37689,"date":"2025-11-05T08:49:41","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T13:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/?p=37689"},"modified":"2025-11-05T08:49:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T13:49:43","slug":"wednesday-college-football-week-11-predictions-kent-state-vs-ball-state-northern-illinois-vs-toledo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/college-football\/wednesday-college-football-week-11-predictions-kent-state-vs-ball-state-northern-illinois-vs-toledo\/","title":{"rendered":"Wednesday College Football Week 11 Predictions: Kent State vs Ball State &#038; Northern Illinois vs Toledo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">The\u00a0<em>midweek MACtion<\/em>\u00a0slate continues this Wednesday with two intriguing conference showdowns:\u00a0<strong>Kent State vs Ball State<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Northern Illinois vs Toledo<\/strong>. Both matchups feature long-running series histories, balanced competition, and defensive storylines that could shape the outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">Both games feature teams looking to establish momentum, and this breakdown from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\">WagerTalk<\/a> gives bettors insight into where the real value may lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kent State vs Ball State | Wednesday MAC Showdown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kickoff<\/strong>: 7:00PM ET on ESPNU<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ball State has controlled the recent rivalry, winning&nbsp;<strong>five of the last six meetings<\/strong>&nbsp;against Kent State. However, the Golden Flashes managed to&nbsp;<strong>stay within the number<\/strong>&nbsp;last year as a three-point home underdog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite&nbsp;<strong>outgaining Ball State by 55 total yards<\/strong>, Kent State couldn\u2019t overcome the turnover battle. Ball State built a&nbsp;<strong>multi-score lead<\/strong>&nbsp;for most of the game, only for Kent State to slide through the&nbsp;<strong>back door<\/strong>&nbsp;with a 57-yard touchdown pass in the final 30 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both teams enter this week\u2019s matchup on&nbsp;<strong>equal rest<\/strong>, adding another layer of familiarity and focus to the preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kent State vs Ball State: Offensive and Defensive Matchups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Kent State\u2019s offense has shown noticeable improvement with&nbsp;<strong>quarterback Dru DeShields<\/strong>&nbsp;leading the way. His presence has sparked efficiency in the passing attack and helped the Flashes find rhythm after early-season inconsistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, Kent State\u2019s&nbsp;<strong>rush defense remains a concern<\/strong>&nbsp;heading into this matchup. Ball State is one of the nation\u2019s most run-heavy teams,&nbsp;<strong>running the ball on 59% of its plays<\/strong>, a mark that ranks inside the top 20 nationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The recent data reinforces that ground dominance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bowling Green<\/strong>\u00a0gashed Kent State for over\u00a0<strong>200 rushing yards<\/strong>\u00a0two weeks ago.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ball State\u2019s ground game has been most effective when facing softer defenses, highlighted by a\u00a0<strong>42-point performance and 216 rushing yards<\/strong>\u00a0in their win over Akron.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>That efficiency stands out even more considering Ball State\u2019s conference schedule \u2014 they\u2019ve already played\u00a0<strong>Ohio, Western Michigan, and Northern Illinois<\/strong>, three of the stronger defensive units in the MAC. Against lesser resistance, the Cardinals have consistently found success on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kent State vs Ball State Prediction: Ball State -2.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While Kent State&#8217;s offense continues to improve, the combination of <strong>Ball State\u2019s established rushing identity<\/strong> and <strong>Kent State\u2019s defensive vulnerabilities<\/strong> on the ground define the matchup dynamic heading into Wednesday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Northern Illinois vs Toledo | Defensive Battle in the MAC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kickoff<\/strong>: 7:00PM ET on ESPN2<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Toledo has taken control of this series,\u00a0<strong>winning each of the last three meetings<\/strong>, including a\u00a0<strong>13\u20136 defensive battle<\/strong>\u00a0last season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That game was particularly unusual \u2014 Northern Illinois generated\u00a0<strong>391 total yards and 25 first downs<\/strong>\u00a0but\u00a0<strong>never found the end zone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Huskies struggled mightily in scoring situations, going&nbsp;<strong>4-of-19 on third down<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>2-of-8 on fourth down<\/strong>. Despite those offensive inefficiencies, both teams come into this year\u2019s meeting with&nbsp;<strong>equal rest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Northern Illinois vs Toledo Team Trends &amp; Statistical Profile<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Northern Illinois recently snapped a six-game losing streak with a&nbsp;<strong>21\u20137 home win over Ball State<\/strong>, offering some positive momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>under<\/strong>&nbsp;has been a consistent trend in Huskies games this season, going&nbsp;<strong>6\u20132 overall<\/strong>. Their slow tempo and lack of explosive plays have made low-scoring outcomes a common occurrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NIU ranks in the\u00a0<strong>bottom 10 nationally in pace<\/strong>, meaning they drain the clock and limit possessions.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Huskies are also\u00a0<strong>last in the country in generating explosive plays (10+ yards)<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Toledo counters with one of the most efficient defenses in the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Rockets rank\u00a0<strong>No. 1 nationally in fewest explosive plays allowed<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Toledo\u2019s defense has surrendered just\u00a0<strong>16.0 points per game<\/strong>\u00a0this season, consistently frustrating opponents with disciplined coverage and gap control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, it\u2019s worth noting that Toledo has already\u00a0<strong>lost two games as a double-digit favorite<\/strong>\u00a0this year, suggesting that Northern Illinois could keep things competitive for stretches of play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Northern Illinois vs Toledo Prediction: Under 42.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With both teams preferring methodical drives and physical defense, the statistical trends align toward a\u00a0<strong>slower, lower-scoring style<\/strong>\u00a0of game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Toledo\u2019s strength in preventing big plays and Northern Illinois\u2019 offensive limitations create a tactical matchup that will likely hinge on turnovers and red-zone execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2025 Football GoldSheet Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Subscribe to the country&#8217;s longest-running sports betting newsletter for less than $10 per week. The Football GoldSheet will be your betting concierge through the 2025-26 football season, offering weekly NFL and NCAAF game previews, stat logs and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-white-color has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/goldsheet\/football\/\">Subscribe to GoldSheet<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WagerTalk Live Odds Screen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WagerTalk\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/odds?sport=L2&amp;cb=0.09536339388008597\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">live odds screen<\/a> features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the moneylines, point spreads, totals and betting percentages for all of the college football Week 8 games, including this Florida State vs Stanford contest. Find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\/college-football\">free college football picks<\/a> from season win total bets through National Championship futures on our free picks pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>**************************************************<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?<\/span> Go beyond the anytime touchdown scorer picks!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"><strong>Latest Betting Odds and Public Action: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wt.buzz\/odds\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vegas lines<\/a> updated in real time, including who the public is betting on<\/span> and anytime touchdown scorer odds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Last Minute Handicapping Advice<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">: Check out our extensive library of <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/sports-betting-guide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">handicapping tips<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> and advice from professional Vegas handicappers (we also recommend taking the time to look over our <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/videos\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">sports betting tips video library<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Want an expert opinion?<\/strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> Check out the latest <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Free Sports Picks<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Best Bets<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\"> from our team of expert sports handicappers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Make sure to bookmark all the above!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0midweek MACtion\u00a0slate continues this Wednesday with two intriguing conference showdowns:\u00a0Kent State vs Ball State\u00a0and\u00a0Northern Illinois vs Toledo. Both matchups feature long-running series histories, balanced competition, and defensive storylines that could shape the outcomes. Both games feature teams looking to establish momentum, and this breakdown from WagerTalk gives bettors insight into where the real value may [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":37690,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[8,15397,1088,1498,15398,15400,15402,15403,15301,15396,15302,11556],"class_list":["post-37689","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-college-football","tag-college-football","tag-college-football-pick","tag-college-football-picks","tag-college-football-predictions","tag-kent-state-vs-ball-state","tag-kent-state-vs-ball-state-predictions","tag-northern-illinois-vs-toledo-picks","tag-northern-illinois-vs-toledo-predictions","tag-wednesday-college-football","tag-wednesday-college-football-best-bets","tag-wednesday-college-football-bets","tag-wednesday-college-football-picks"],"basic_html":"\n<p class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">The\u00a0<em>midweek MACtion<\/em>\u00a0slate continues this Wednesday with two intriguing conference showdowns:\u00a0<strong>Kent State vs Ball State<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Northern Illinois vs Toledo<\/strong>. Both matchups feature long-running series histories, balanced competition, and defensive storylines that could shape the outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">Both games feature teams looking to establish momentum, and this breakdown from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/picks\">WagerTalk<\/a> gives bettors insight into where the real value may lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kent State vs Ball State | Wednesday MAC Showdown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kickoff<\/strong>: 7:00PM ET on ESPNU<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Ball State has controlled the recent rivalry, winning&nbsp;<strong>five of the last six meetings<\/strong>&nbsp;against Kent State. However, the Golden Flashes managed to&nbsp;<strong>stay within the number<\/strong>&nbsp;last year as a three-point home underdog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Despite&nbsp;<strong>outgaining Ball State by 55 total yards<\/strong>, Kent State couldn\u2019t overcome the turnover battle. Ball State built a&nbsp;<strong>multi-score lead<\/strong>&nbsp;for most of the game, only for Kent State to slide through the&nbsp;<strong>back door<\/strong>&nbsp;with a 57-yard touchdown pass in the final 30 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Both teams enter this week\u2019s matchup on&nbsp;<strong>equal rest<\/strong>, adding another layer of familiarity and focus to the preparation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kent State vs Ball State: Offensive and Defensive Matchups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Kent State\u2019s offense has shown noticeable improvement with&nbsp;<strong>quarterback Dru DeShields<\/strong>&nbsp;leading the way. His presence has sparked efficiency in the passing attack and helped the Flashes find rhythm after early-season inconsistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>However, Kent State\u2019s&nbsp;<strong>rush defense remains a concern<\/strong>&nbsp;heading into this matchup. Ball State is one of the nation\u2019s most run-heavy teams,&nbsp;<strong>running the ball on 59% of its plays<\/strong>, a mark that ranks inside the top 20 nationally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The recent data reinforces that ground dominance:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>That efficiency stands out even more considering Ball State\u2019s conference schedule \u2014 they\u2019ve already played\u00a0<strong>Ohio, Western Michigan, and Northern Illinois<\/strong>, three of the stronger defensive units in the MAC. Against lesser resistance, the Cardinals have consistently found success on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kent State vs Ball State Prediction: Ball State -2.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>While Kent State's offense continues to improve, the combination of <strong>Ball State\u2019s established rushing identity<\/strong> and <strong>Kent State\u2019s defensive vulnerabilities<\/strong> on the ground define the matchup dynamic heading into Wednesday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Northern Illinois vs Toledo | Defensive Battle in the MAC<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Kickoff<\/strong>: 7:00PM ET on ESPN2<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Toledo has taken control of this series,\u00a0<strong>winning each of the last three meetings<\/strong>, including a\u00a0<strong>13\u20136 defensive battle<\/strong>\u00a0last season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>That game was particularly unusual \u2014 Northern Illinois generated\u00a0<strong>391 total yards and 25 first downs<\/strong>\u00a0but\u00a0<strong>never found the end zone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The Huskies struggled mightily in scoring situations, going&nbsp;<strong>4-of-19 on third down<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>2-of-8 on fourth down<\/strong>. Despite those offensive inefficiencies, both teams come into this year\u2019s meeting with&nbsp;<strong>equal rest<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Northern Illinois vs Toledo Team Trends &amp; Statistical Profile<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Northern Illinois recently snapped a six-game losing streak with a&nbsp;<strong>21\u20137 home win over Ball State<\/strong>, offering some positive momentum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;<strong>under<\/strong>&nbsp;has been a consistent trend in Huskies games this season, going&nbsp;<strong>6\u20132 overall<\/strong>. Their slow tempo and lack of explosive plays have made low-scoring outcomes a common occurrence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Toledo counters with one of the most efficient defenses in the nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>However, it\u2019s worth noting that Toledo has already\u00a0<strong>lost two games as a double-digit favorite<\/strong>\u00a0this year, suggesting that Northern Illinois could keep things competitive for stretches of play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Northern Illinois vs Toledo Prediction: Under 42.5<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>With both teams preferring methodical drives and physical defense, the statistical trends align toward a\u00a0<strong>slower, lower-scoring style<\/strong>\u00a0of game. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Toledo\u2019s strength in preventing big plays and Northern Illinois\u2019 offensive limitations create a tactical matchup that will likely hinge on turnovers and red-zone execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2025 Football GoldSheet Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Subscribe to the country's longest-running sports betting newsletter for less than $10 per week. The Football GoldSheet will be your betting concierge through the 2025-26 football season, offering weekly NFL and NCAAF game previews, stat logs and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">WagerTalk Live Odds Screen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>WagerTalk\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/odds?sport=L2&amp;cb=0.09536339388008597\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">live odds screen<\/a> features up-to-the-minute lines from a variety of offshore and domestic sports books. Track the moneylines, point spreads, totals and betting percentages for all of the college football Week 8 games, including this Florida State vs Stanford contest. Find <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/free-sports-picks\/college-football\">free college football picks<\/a> from season win total bets through National Championship futures on our free picks pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>**************************************************<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-size: 12pt;\">Looking for more free sports picks and sports betting tips?<\/span> Go beyond the anytime touchdown scorer picks!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><em>Make sure to bookmark all the above!<\/em><\/p>\n","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37689","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37689"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37696,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37689\/revisions\/37696"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37690"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wagertalk.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}