FACTS & STATS: Site: Scheumann Stadium (22,500) -- Muncie, Indiana. Television: None. Home Record: Buffalo 0-1, Ball State 0-1. Away Record: Buffalo 1-2, Ball State 2-1. Neutral Record: Buffalo 0-0, Ball State 0-0. Conference Record: Buffalo 1-0, Ball State 1-1. Series Record: Ball State leads, 5-0.

GAME NOTES: In a Mid-American Conference showdown, the Ball State Cardinals will host the Buffalo Bulls this Saturday afternoon from Scheumann Stadium. Since defeating Temple 42-7, the Bulls have dropped back-to-back contests, including a rough, 34-21 setback to Baylor this past weekend. After this matchup with Ball State, the Bulls will host three of their next four contests. As for the Cardinals, they had a small two-game winning streak snapped with a heartbreaking, 41-40 setback to Nebraska this past weekend. This will be the first contest of a three-game homestand for Ball State, which will also host Central Michigan and Western Kentucky over the next two weeks. The all-time series between Ball State and Buffalo has been a lopsided one, as the Cardinals have won all five meetings, including a convincing, 55-25 win over the Bulls last year.

Over the past few seasons the Bulls have been a laughing stock offensively, however this year the team is actually putting forth some impressive numbers, especially through the air. Buffalo is currently averaging 242.5 ypg via the pass, but as a whole the unit is netting a mediocre 351.8 ypg, which has led to just 22.5 ppg. The Bulls continued to produce with the passing attack this past weekend against Baylor, but that was not enough for Buffalo, which lost by 13 points. In the setback Drew Willy threw for 276 yards and one touchdown, but the signal-caller was also intercepted three times and sacked three times. On the year Willy has completed an impressive 69.1 percent of his passes, but has thrown only four touchdowns against five interceptions. Unfortunately, the ground game has not had much success, as the team is being led by Mario Henry, who has just 238 yards and one touchdown on the year. James Starks, who rushed for 62 yards and two scores against Baylor, is second on the team with 150 rushing yards.

Defensively the Bulls have had plenty of problems, which would explain why the team is yielding 31.0 ppg on the year. The team has been unable to stop the opposition on the ground or through the air, as opponents are rushing for 154.8 ypg, while passing for another 219.8 ypg. The unit has forced eight turnovers on the year, but has collected just eight sacks. In the recent setback to Baylor, the defense was abused for 229 rushing yards. Overall Buffalo surrendered 401 total yards and that led to 34 points for the Bears. Not only did the defense yield 24 first downs in the contest, but the Bulls also allowed Baylor to convert on 6-of-17 third down chances and 4-of-5 red zone attempts. The biggest contributor for Buffalo was Larry Hutchinson, who posted 11 tackles to go along with two TFLs.

The Cardinals possess possibly the most dangerous offensive unit in the Mid- American Conference. The team can beat opponents with either its daunting rushing attack which is posting 185.8 ypg, or it can light up the sky with its passing game, which is producing 300.8 ypg. The Cardinals fell victim to Nebraska this past weekend by one-point, however the offensive unit did all it could to produce a victory. Ball State accumulated a whopping 610 yards against Nebraska, including an eye-popping 422 yards via the pass. Along with that yardage quarterback Nate Davis also tossed three touchdowns, while throwing just one interception. Davis has been red-hot since day one of the season, and heads into this matchup with 1,203 passing yards and an 11/2 touchdown to interception ratio. Dante Love and Darius Hill have been his top two targets, as the two players have combined for 50 catches for 800 yards and eight touchdowns. In the loss to Nebraska, Love had a career day, hauling in 10 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown. Not to be outdone, MiQuale Lewis led the ground attack for BSU with 122 yards and one touchdown. As a whole the unit collected an impressive 188 yards on 36 carries. Lewis has been tremendous thus far for Ball State, churning out 447 yards, while averaging 4.1 ypc.

The main issue for this defensive unit has been its inability to stop the run, as the opposition is producing a whopping 230 ypg on the ground. Overall, Ball State is yielding 423.8 total ypg, which has led to 25.5 ppg. The Cardinals have been able to record eight turnovers on the season, however the unit has had trouble getting to the quarterback, collecting just seven sacks in four games. In the recent loss to Nebraska, the Cardinals held the Cornhuskers to just 114 rushing yards, but the defense was torched for 438 yards via the pass. Ball State surrendered 25 first downs in the loss and also allowed the Huskers to convert on 8-of-13 third down chances and all three red zone attempts. B. J. Hill led the defense with 10 tackles and also grabbed an interception in the setback. Bryant Haines, who is leading the squad with 42 stops, finished with nine tackles this past weekend.

Ball State is coming off a tough road loss to Nebraska, but the team is clearly the top offensive unit in the MAC and should roll right over a weaker Buffalo squad.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ball State 45, Buffalo 21