Northern Illinois at Ball State Week 9 College Football Matchup Northern Illinois at Ball State Matchup - Week 9
Sat, Oct 26 2024 · Week 9 · 🏟 Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN · Turf · 22,500 cap
Northern Illinois✈ 211 mi+1 hr TZ
23 25
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Northern Illinois
33
Ball State
17
P&R Line Northern Illinois -16
P&R Total O/U 50
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Northern Illinois -13.5 · O/U 47.5
Matchup Prediction
Northern Illinois has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Northern Illinois entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Northern Illinois wins
Lean
Game Control
58.3%
Northern Illinois wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Northern Illinois -13.5
O/U 47.5
Bovada
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Northern Illinois · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ See full breakdown
Northern Illinois 2024 Schedule
Northern Illinois's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/31Northern Illinois vs Western Illinois-36.5W54–1555.5W54–15OY
Sat 9/7Northern Illinois at Notre Dame+28.5W16–1446.5W16–14UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/21Northern Illinois vs Buffalo-13.0L20–2342.5L20–23ON
Sat 9/28Northern Illinois at NC State+7.0L17–2446.0L17–24UY
Sat 10/5Northern Illinois vs Massachusetts-14.0W34–2041.0W34–20ON
Sat 10/12Northern Illinois at Bowling Green+3.0W17–746.5W17–7UY
Sat 10/19Northern Illinois vs Toledo-3.0L6–1342.5L6–13UN
Sat 10/26Northern Illinois at Ball State-13.5L23–2547.5L23–25ON
— Bye Week —
Wed 11/6Northern Illinois at Western Michigan-2.5W42–2851.5W42–28OY
Wed 11/13Northern Illinois vs Akron-14.0W29–1643.5W29–16ON
Tue 11/19Northern Illinois at Miami (OH)+1.5L9–2043.0L9–20UN
Sat 11/30Northern Illinois vs Central Michigan-16.5W24–1641.5W24–16UN
Mon 12/23Northern Illinois vs Fresno State-2.0W28–2041.0W28–20OY
Ball State 2024 Schedule
Ball State's 2024 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/7Ball State vs Missouri State-2.5W42–3450.5W42–34OY
Sat 9/14Ball State at Miami+36.5L0–6255.5L0–62ON
Sat 9/21Ball State at Central Michigan+6.5L34–3751.0L34–37OY
Sat 9/28Ball State at James Madison+22.0L7–6356.5L7–63ON
Sat 10/5Ball State vs Western Michigan+10.0L42–4557.5L42–45OY
Sat 10/12Ball State at Kent State-3.0W37–3558.0W37–35ON
Sat 10/19Ball State at Vanderbilt+27.5L14–2457.5L14–24UY
Sat 10/26Ball State vs Northern Illinois+13.5W25–2347.5W25–23OY
— Bye Week —
Tue 11/5Ball State vs Miami (OH)+12.5L21–2748.5L21–27UY
Tue 11/12Ball State at Buffalo+3.5L48–5155.5L48–51OY
Sat 11/23Ball State vs Bowling Green+12.5L13–3854.5L13–38UN
Fri 11/29Ball State at Ohio+17.5L21–4251.5L21–42ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2024 season
Northern Illinois PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Northern Illinois
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Northern Illinois
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Northern Illinois
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Northern Illinois #86
+0.479
Ball State #98
+0.199
Northern Illinois Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Northern Illinois #84
+0.668
Ball State #98
+0.229
Northern Illinois Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Northern Illinois #48
0.174
Ball State #116
0.134
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Northern Illinois Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Northern Illinois #113
+8.205
Ball State #65
+7.019
Northern Illinois Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Northern Illinois #79
+0.886
Ball State #78
+0.798
Northern Illinois Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Northern Illinois #37
69.6
Ball State #41
69.7
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Northern Illinois Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2024 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Northern Illinois Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Northern Illinois
-17.8
Ball State
-21.6
Offense Rating
Northern Illinois
8.5
Ball State
5.9
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Northern Illinois
26.3
Ball State
27.5
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Northern Illinois Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Northern Illinois #14
1.00
Ball State #111
0.83
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Northern Illinois #4
0.17
Ball State #132
3.17
Northern Illinois +0.17
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Northern Illinois Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Northern Illinois #1
43.9
Ball State #1
33.6
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Northern Illinois #70
36.3
Ball State #104
46.8
Northern Illinois +10.3
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.3% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Ball State
2 — 0 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
Ball State
63.5 — 13.8 GC score
✗ Predicted incorrectly
Game Result
Ball State won by 2
✗ Model missed it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Northern Illinois. Teams with this edge profile have covered 50.3% historically — essentially a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Northern Illinois
Thomas Hammock #1
24–33 (42%) · Yr 6 at school
OC Wesley Beschorner Yr 1 #1
DC Nick Benedetto Yr 3 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Ball State
Mike Neu #1
37–56 (40%) · Yr 9 at school
OC Jared Elliott Yr 2 #1
DC Jeff Knowles Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: CSS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: GS is not a predictive ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself