In one of the first showdowns during midweek MACtion this season, Ball State and Miami (Ohio) will be vying for one of the top spots in the conference standings.

Miami (Ohio) has certainly had an interesting journey up to this point. Going into the year as a preseason favorite to win the MAC, the RedHawks lost their first three games, all against Power Four competition. But they have won four of their last five since then and are in a tie for second place in the conference standings with a 3-1 mark against league foes.

But they’ll want to continue this upward trajectory if they want to still have a shot at defending their conference crown, and going on the road this week to take on Ball State won’t be easy. The Cardinals are 3-5 overall and 2-2 in MAC play, so they still have an opportunity to appear in the league title game or at the very least earn a bowl bid.

Miami (Ohio) vs. Ball State Betting Odds

Miami (Ohio) is a -11.5 college football betting odds favorite against Ball State, with the Over/Under being 48.5.

The moneyline for Miami (Ohio) is -500, while it’s +360 for Ball State.

Miami (Ohio) vs. Ball State On TV

The matchup between Miami (Ohio) and Ball State will be televised on ESPN.

The game will kick off at 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The contest is taking place at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, Indiana.

Miami (Ohio) vs. Ball State Prediction

I predict Miami (Ohio) will win but Ball State will cover the spread at +11.5. I also project the game will go Over 48.5 total points.

Listen, I don’t think Ball State is a bad team at all. The Cardinals have been in close contests all season. Except for their losses against the Miami Hurricanes and JMU, they’ve either lost by 10 or fewer points or have won. That includes their 24-14 loss at Vanderbilt a few weeks ago. They most recently beat Northern Illinois 25-23.

But I ultimately believe Miami (Ohio) is well equipped to make another run at a MAC Championship. The RedHawks have been scoring at a high clip recently, having put up 30 or more points in each of their last three games. They’re coming off a 46-7 win over Central Michigan.

I think Ball State will find a way to keep this game close at home. But I also believe Miami will put up too many points for the Cardinals to keep up.

On Election Day, you must cast your ballot in your precinct at your designated polling place between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.

If you are in line by 7:30 p.m., even if the polls close, stay in line, you can still cast your ballot.

If you do not know where your designated precinct or polling place is located, please contact your county board of elections or click here to search for your polling place online.

Voter ID

All voters will need to bring an acceptable photo identification to the poll in order to verify their identity. Click here for a list of acceptable forms of identification.

Absentee ballots

Absentee ballots returned by mail must be post-marked by Nov. 4.

If not returned by mail, absentee ballots may be personally delivered to your county board of elections. They must be received by your board of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 5

Nonpartisan voter helpline

If you have any questions or concerns about voting, or poll worker challenges to your voting status and registration, a nonpartisan helpline has been created.

Call or text 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683) to speak with a trained Election Protection volunteer in English.

The hotline also comes in different languages

Spanish: 888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682)

Asian languages: 888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)

Arabic: 844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)

Marking your ballot

Instructions for marking and casting your ballot are posted in each polling place. If you have any questions about how to mark or cast your ballot, or if you have incorrectly marked a ballot, immediately contact a precinct election official for instructions before you continue.

Voting assistance

A voter with a physical or mental disability, or a voter who is unable to read or write, may be assisted by anyone of the voter’s choice, except a candidate who appears on the ballot in that precinct, the voter’s employer or the employer’s agent, or an officer or agent of the voter’s union. A voter may also be assisted by two poll workers (each of a different political party). No one who assists a voter may disclose any information about how that person voted. For more information about access for voters with disabilities, please click here.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance could be the next vice president of the United States if former President Donald Trump defeats Vice President Kamala Harris.

He has been a U.S. senator since January 2023 when he won the race to replace Sen. Rob Portman.

Here’s what you need to know about Vance.

Where is JD Vance from?

Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, and often spent summers with extended family in Jackson, Kentucky.

How old is JD Vance?

Vance turned 40 on Aug. 2. If elected, he would be the youngest vice president since Richard Nixon.

More: JD Vance would be first Ohio resident to be vice president, is first in 80 years on ticket

Did JD Vance serve in the military?

Vance joined the Marines Corp after high school and served as a public affairs marine in Iraq.

What is ‘Hillbilly Elegy?’

Vance first attracted national attention for his best-selling 2016 memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” In the book, Vance recounted a turbulent childhood, his mother’s struggle with substance use disorder and the life-changing influence of his grandmother, known to him as Mamaw.

His broader commentary about the plight of the Rust Belt and Appalachia became a textbook for pundits trying to understand Donald Trump’s popularity with disaffected white Americans.

The book was later made into a movie by Ron Howard, starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams.

Watch: Usha Vance introduces husband JD Vance at 2024 RNC

Usha Chilukuri Vance, wife of Donald Trump’s running mate, delivered remarks at the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Who is JD Vance’s wife Usha Vance?

Vance married Usha Chilukuri Vance in 2014 after the pair met at Yale Law School. She previously worked as a litigator at Munger, Tolles & Olson but left the firm when her husband secured the vice-presidential nomination.

How many kids does JD Vance have?

The couple has three young children: Ewan, 7, Vivek, 4, and Mirabel, 2.

Where does JD Vance live?

Vance and his family split their time between Cincinnati and Alexandria, Virginia.

Who is JD Vance’s mom?

Vance’s mom, Beverly Aikins, was raised by Kentucky-born parents in Middletown with her brother and sister. She has two children: Vance and his sister, Lindsay.

Aikins is 10 years sober, something Vance frequently mentions during his stump speeches. She has also traveled with him on the campaign trail.

“I want people to know to reach out, to try to get help, and that recovery is hard but it’s so worth it,” Aikins recently told the New York Times.

Dogs of 2024 election: Meet JD Vance and Tim Walz’s furry friends

JD Vance and Tim Walz might be on opposing sides, but they have one thing in common: their love for dogs.

Advertisement

What is JD Vance’s net worth?

Vance and Usha Vance have a combined net worth between $3.4 million and $10.2 million, according to his 2023 financial disclosure.

How long has JD Vance been in politics?

Vance was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022 after defeating former Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan for an open seat in Ohio.

What has JD Vance said about Donald Trump?

Vance was not always fond of the former president.

He previously suggested Trump could be “America’s Hitler” and compared him to an opioid − a quick fix who wouldn’t actually solve the country’s problems. Vance did not vote for Trump in 2016 and joked that he would rather write his dog on the ballot than back him or Hillary Clinton.

“I think that I’m going to vote third party because I can’t stomach Trump,” Vance told NPR. “I think that he’s noxious and is leading the white working class to a very dark place.”

Vance changed his tune as he geared up for his 2022 Senate run, deleting controversial tweets and crediting Trump for the work he did in office. He secured Trump’s endorsement in a chaotic Republican Senate primary and is now one of the former president’s most loyal allies.

Haley BeMiller is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati Enquirer, Akron Beacon Journal and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.