Ball State Cardinals Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds | Sportsbookbuzz.com

Ball State Cardinals Football 2011 Preview, Predictions, Picks, Odds

As the 2011 NCAA Football Season approaches, we are providing season previews for every college football teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best College Football Handicappers as they analyze their teams in this 2011 season preview. Be sure to bookmark SportsbookBuzz.com your source for Sportsbook Reviews. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the College Football in our recommend sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2011 NCAA Football Season Previews here.

2010 Record: 4-8 MAC Record: 3-5 (4t, West) 2011 Returning Starters: 17; 8 offense, 7 defense, kicker, punter

Coach: Pete Lembo, First Season

Offensive Coordinators: Rich Skrosky Defensive Coordinators: Jay Bateman

2011 Ball State Players to Watch: QB Keith Wenning, WR Briggs Orsbon, WR Jack Tomlinson, C Jerrod Gray, LT Austin Holtz, DE Andrew Puthoff, MLB Travis Freeman, SS Sean Baker

2011 Ball State Strengths:
Lembo would like to build an attacking offense that uses the pass as its primary weapon. He likes what he sees from Wenning, Orsbon and Tomlinson, and the running game should be complementary.

2011 Ball State Weaknesses:
Lembo has expressed concerns that neither line has enough depth to be completely effective. It will take some time for the players – many of whom are undersized – to get used to a new coaching staff and a new system. The opening month of the schedule is difficult.

2011 Ball State Offense:

New Ball State coach Pete Lembo operates a no-huddle attack but emphasizes that it’s not a spread. Lembo likes to mix and match his groupings to fit his personnel and the situation, but he’s partial to the passing game. Elon, Lembo’s previous stop, ranked second among all FCS teams last year with 322.4 passing yards per game. During spring ball, sophomore Keith Wenning and junior Kelly Page battled to win the right to operate the pass-first offense, and the rangy Wenning is the favorite to build on his streak of 10 consecutive starts. Ball State retains the top three receivers from last year, including senior slot man Briggs Orsbon (28 catches), but Lembo envisions three true freshmen providing immediate impact. Willie Snead enrolled early and got a jump on the split end spot, while Lembo likes the size that 6’4″ Trey Gardner and 6’3″ Jacolby Owens provide. Third-team All-MAC running back Eric Williams (613 yards) decided to transfer in June, leaving Cory Sykes and David Brown to battle for carries. Sykes is the likely starter, but missed a chunk of last season with knee tendinitis. Ball State returns two full-time starters on the line in guard Kitt O’Brien and tackle Dan Manick, as well as four others who made at least five starts in 2010.

2011 Ball State Defense:

New defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who made the move from Elon with Lembo, spent the spring teaching the many looks Ball State plans to spring on MAC schools this year. The Cardinals welcome back five veterans who started every game in 2010 an accomplished group led by second-team All-MAC safety Sean Baker (school-record 16 career INTs). Junior corner Jason Pinkston earned third-team All-MAC honors with four interceptions last year. Junior middle linebacker Travis Freeman ranked seventh in the MAC last year with 109 tackles. Bateman moved sophomore Aaron Morris from safety to strong-side linebacker to boost the crew’s athleticism. Nose tackle Adam Morris anchors the four-man defensive front, but there’s not a proven pass-rusher in the group. Perhaps true freshman Nick Miles, who recorded 17 sacks as a senior in high school, can become that guy.

2011 Ball State Special Teams:

Punter Scott Kovanda dropped 16 punts inside the 20 while averaging 40 yards per kick a year ago. Steven Schott handled kickoff duties in 2010, and he’ll add field goal duties for the first time this year, taking over for Ian McGarvey, who made 14 of 17 attempts last year.

2011 Ball State Football Schedule | Ball State Football Sportsbooks

2011 Ball State Predictions:

Lembo inherits a program that won only six games in the last two seasons and has only two winning seasons in the last 14 so it’s not like the Cardinals are poised for a rapid turnaround. On the other hand, there are a few seniors who contributed significantly to the 2008 team that opened 12–0 and rose as high as No. 12 in the BCS standings. That means a good chunk of the squad knows what’s necessary to win games, but it’s going to take time as the Cardinals digest the new offensive and defensive schemes. The win total might be similar to last year’s, but Ball State is on the right track. Lembo is a proven winner who should have his program relevant in the tough MAC West in the near future.

2011 Ball State Betting Odds:

Ball State Current odds to win a National Championship: +5000

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