Ball State football: Will Cardinals finally break through, get back to bowl?

How will Ball State football fare in 2020?

These predictions are obviously based on the assumption of no injuries and nothing COVID-19 related interferes with the season.

• Game 1: vs. Maine (W) — The Cardinals should start the season off with a win against a respectable FCS program in Maine.
• Game 2: at Michigan (L) — The Cardinals’ offense versus Don Brown’s always-stingy (unless it’s OSU) defense will be an interesting matchup. But the Wolverines are far too talented.
• Game 3: at Indiana (L) — The Hoosiers are a sneaky-good team in the Big Ten this year and will be too much against Ball State.
• Game 4: vs. Wyoming (W) — The Cowboys are solid under coach Craig Bohl, but it’s a long trip all the way to Muncie from Laramie.
• Game 5: vs. Western Michigan (W) — The Cardinals open MAC play with a win against a solid Broncos squad.
• Game 6: at Buffalo (L) — The Bulls are thought to be one of the favorites in the MAC and will be a tough out on the road.
• Game 7: vs. Northern Illinois (W) — The Huskies are a struggling program and won’t be able to match the Cardinals’ firepower.
• Game 8: vs. Akron (W) — The Zips did not win a game a year ago and 2020 could be another rough season.
• Game 9: at Miami (OH) (L) — The Redhawks are the defending champs in the MAC and will be tough to beat on the road. Expect a shootout.
• Game 10: vs. Eastern Michigan (W) — This should be the win that makes the Cardinals bowl eligible against a tough Eastern Michigan squad.
• Game 11: at Central Michigan (W) — This will be a real battle against the Chippewas, but the offense makes enough big plays to get a big road win.
• Game 12: at Toledo (L) — The Rockets aren’t an easy out in the Glass Bowl and one of the well-coached teams in the league.

Final Record: 7-5, 5-3 MAC

If the Cardinals can rebound from two likely losses to Michigan and Indiana, the schedule is manageable to make a run at the conference title game. Two of the tougher road games will be against two league favorites in Buffalo and Miami (OH), but the majority of the games are at home and winnable.

I think the Cardinals can make a run at the conference title game.