The Ball State Cardinals and Tennessee Volunteers open their 2022 seasons at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Thursday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the Ball State at Tennessee odds, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.
The Cardinals will try to solve the Power T in this 1st-ever meeting between the schools, and it will be a tall order for Ball State. On a positive note, it won its last 2 games straight up as a double-digit underdog last season at Western Michigan and at home to Army.
The Volunteers have a tremendous dual-threat QB in Hendon Hooker. He transferred in from Virginia Tech last season and completed 68.2% of his passes for 2,945 yards, 31 TD and just 3 INT while running for 620 yards and 5 more scores. He’ll be a handful for the Cards D to contain.
Check out: AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY sports
Stream select live college football games and full replays: Get ESPN+
Ball State at Tennessee odds
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:56 a.m. ET.
Money line (ML): Ball State +1500 (bet $100 to win $1,500) | Tennessee -10000 (bet $10,000 to win $100) Against the spread (ATS): Ball State +35.5 (-115) | Tennessee -35.5 (-107) Over/Under (O/U): 66.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)Exclusive USA TODAY Network offer: Deposit $10 or more, get $200 in instant bet credits at Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Place your legal, online sports bets at Tipico. Let’s make this interesting. Bet now!
Ball State at Tennessee picks and predictions
Prediction
Tennessee 45, Ball State 10
Money line
Tennessee (-10000) will cost you $100 for every $1 won. There is never a reason to risk that much for such a small return.
AVOID.
Against the spread
BALL STATE +35.5 (-115) won outright as double-digit ‘dogs in its last 2 occasions, both last season, but playing at Tennessee -35.5 (-107) and winning will not be the case here.
While the Cardinals have a new quarterback to replace three-year starter Drew Plitt, this team has some surprising talent at the skill positions. And the defense returns 6 starters from a unit which was decent in 2021. Hendon will pick apart a new-look Ball State secondary, and that’s where a majority of Tennessee’s points will be had.
Over/Under
UNDER 66.5 (-112) is the best option on the board in this game.
Ball State will have trouble scoring, especially playing in front of 100,000+ raucous fans in Burnt Orange. Tennessee will not have trouble moving the ball, and will score into the 40’s before calling off the dogs. It wouldn’t be shocking to see at least 40 combined points in the 1st half, with little scoring in the 2nd half.
Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!
Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, Sportsbook Wire’s official sportsbook partner in CO and NJ. Bet now!
If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:
Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News
Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. 21+ only. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ), 1-800-522-4700 (CO).