Ball State vs. Central Michigan Picks and Prediction for Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Use Code WWWC On Tuesday, the Ball State Cardinals will play the Central Michigan Chippewas in a Mid-American Conference basketball game, and we have you ready to go with our Ball State vs. Central Michigan prediction, odds, and preview. Tip-off from Mount Pleasant, MI, is at 7:00 p.m. ET.
These MAC programs played twice last season. Ball State won the first matchup 82-80, and Central Michigan won game two 69-67. The Cardinals and Chippewas have split their last ten games (5-5 ATS), and the over/under was also split 5-5. If you want the Ball State vs. Central Michigan prediction, read on to get our top NCAAB predictions and increase your bankroll!
Ball State is 0-8 on the road
Ball State (5-13 SU, 7-9 ATS, and 6-10 O/U) beat Ohio 76-71 last Friday, snapping a four-game losing streak. The Cardinals, who are in a last-place tie with Central Michigan with 1-5 records in MAC play, knocked down 25 free throws in the win. They led by 13 at halftime and never trailed, holding the Bobcats to 4-for-16 shooting from beyond the arc.
The Cardinals were picked to finish eighth in the MAC's preseason poll. They are led by third-year head coach Michael Lewis, who is 49-45 during his tenure in Muncie. Ball State scores 68.4 points per game (339th) on 42.2 percent shooting (317th), including 31.4 percent from deep (299th). Defensively, the Cards allow 70.8 points per game (78th) on 45.7 percent shooting (282nd), including 34.7 percent from long range (258th).
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Junior guard Armoni Zeigler leads Ball State in scoring, averaging 12.7 points with 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 dimes per game. A few other Cardinals players to watch in Tuesday's MAC game vs. Central Michigan are sophomore guard Davion Hill (12.2 PPG and 3.9 RPG), senior guard Devon Barnes (8.9 PPG and 2.0 APG), and junior forward Mason Jones (5.1 PPG and 4.6 RPG). KenPom ranks BSU 311th nationally, including 312th in offensive efficiency rating and 284th in defensive efficiency rating.
Ball State Cardinals Injury Report:
- Junior guard Joey Hart (9.0 PPG in four games) is questionable (foot).
Central Michigan can get stops on defense
Central Michigan (5-13 SU, 8-8 ATS, and 7-9 O/U) lost 100-61 on the road to Miami (OH) in its last game (January 13). The Chippewas were thoroughly outplayed by the undefeated RedHawks, who shot 60 percent overall and 48 percent from three-point range. They also knocked down 25 of their 28 free throws. CMU scored 36 in the paint but was 5-for-19 from deep and committed 15 turnovers.
CMU is in its first season under head coach Andy Bronkema, who spent the previous 12 seasons as the HC at Ferris State, where he won a D-II national championship. Central Michigan was picked to finish 12th out of 13 teams in the MAC preseason poll. The Chippewas, who last made the NCAA Tournament in 2003, finished second in the MAC in scoring defense last season (72.2 PPG allowed). The 2025-26 roster is comprised of 12 transfers and three freshmen.
Seven-foot senior center Nathan Claerbaut leads Central Michigan in scoring (12.7 PPG) and rebounding (6.2 RPG). He shoots 58.3 percent from the floor. A few other Chips to watch in Tuesday's MAC hoops game vs. Ball State are senior guard Tamario Adley (11.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 3.3 APG), sophomore guard Phat Phat Brooks (10.4 PPG and 3.3 APG), and senior guard Logan McIntire (8.1 PPG). KenPom ranks CMU 321st nationally, including 302nd in offensive efficiency rating and 324th in defensive efficiency rating.
Central Michigan Chippewas Injury Report:
- No injuries to report.
Ball State vs. Central Michigan Pick and Preview
Spread Pick for Ball State vs. Central Michigan
- CMU covers (4 Units)
Ball State is winless on the road this season, and I find it unlikely the Cardinals will win or cover as small 'dogs on Tuesday. Central Michigan enters this matchup with defensive momentum, ranking 63rd nationally in that metric, according to Haslametrics. They finished second in the MAC in scoring defense last season (72.2 PPG allowed). The Chippewas are also solid offensively inside the arc, ranking in the top 100 in mid-range shooting percentage on the 35th-highest mid-range attempt rate. The Cardinals have struggled defensively, ranking 284th in opponent mid-range percentage and 288th in opponent three-point percentage.
Fire up a bet on the Chips in Tuesday's game against Ball State!
Over/Under Pick for Ball State vs. Central Michigan
- Under (4 Units)
The under is a combined 19-13 in these teams' games this season, including 6-2 in Central's last eight games. That's the side I recommend taking in Tuesday's game between the MAC's last-place squads. Both rank outside the top 300 in offensive efficiency, and neither gets to the free-throw line often. Considering that the Cardinals have struggled on the road and play at one of the slowest paces in the country (334th in schedule-adjusted tempo), I expect them to be held in check by the Chippewas, who are building momentum on defense. This will be a competitive, low-scoring game between two teams unlikely to win more than 12 games this season.
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