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FACTS & STATS: Site: Scheumann Stadium (25,400) -- Muncie, Indiana. Television: None. Home Record: CMU 2-1, Ball State 2-1. Away Record: CMU 0-4, Ball State 1-2. Neutral Record: CMU 0-0, Ball State 1-0. Conference Record: CMU 1-2, Ball State 2-1. Series Record: Series is tied, 21-21-1.

GAME NOTES: Fresh off a huge road victory, the Ball State Cardinals are back home as they host the Central Michigan Chippewas this Saturday in a Mid- American Conference matchup at Scheumann Stadium.

After exploding for 48 points in a win over Northern Illinois, the Chippewas have fallen right back into their losing ways. The second win on the season for CMU was followed by losses to NC State and Eastern Michigan. The 35-28 loss to the Eagles came at home where CMU is usually tough and also sent the team to 1-2 in league action.

As for the Cardinals, they managed to grab their fourth win on the year with a 23-20 decision over Ohio this past weekend on the road. The win snapped a two- game slide for Ball State, which is now 2-1 in conference play, thanks in part to a victory over Buffalo back in September.

This will be the 44th meeting between the two schools on the gridiron and the previous 43 matchups have been split down the middle, 21-21-1. Ball State was able to tie things up with wins in two of the last three matchups, including a 31-17 decision over the Chippewas last year.

If the Chippewas are going to be successful, quarterback Ryan Radcliff has to become much more consistent. The signal caller has shown flashes of brilliance, but those moments are tied closely with poor judgement and untimely miscues.

Through seven games the quarterback has thrown for 1,748 yards and 13 touchdowns, but has already tossed 11 interceptions as well. Radcliff however, is carrying the bulk of the offense's success because the rushing attack has been much more inconsistent and comes into this game averaging just 114.3 ypg.

The team's inability to run the ball was evident in its recent loss to Eastern Michigan, as the Chippewas finished with just 98 yards on 32 carries. Since the team had such a tough time running the ball CMU was unable to chew up the clock and that gave Eastern Michigan plenty of time to score 21 points in the final frame.

As for Radcliff, he did all he could to keep CMU from falling to a divisional foe, but his 351 yards and three touchdowns just were not enough to get the job done.

The defense certainly did not help the cause on Saturday either, as the Chippewas were gashed for 350 yards and five touchdowns on 7.0 yards per attempt.

This has been the main issue for this defense for most of the season, and as of right now CMU is being pulverized for 186.0 ypg on the ground, surrendering 15 rushing touchdowns.

Another issue that has hurt the success of this defense has been its inability to force big plays. On the year the Chippewas have collected just eight takeaways and have recorded just eight sacks.

There has been one bright spot for this defense and that has been the play of Jahleel Addae, who is leading the team with 66 tackles and three interceptions.

It wasn't sexy, but the Cardinals were able to get through Ohio last Saturday. The majority of the team's success came on the ground, as Ball State finished with 166 yards on 41 carries.

Jahwan Edwards led the way with 123 yards and scored once, while Keith Wenning added a rushing touchdown as well. The quarterback did not have a great performance with his arm though, but he did manage the contest and finished with 179 yards through the air.

Wenning has been nothing more than mediocre on the season and comes into this weekend with only seven touchdowns against five interceptions. Since Ball State's quarterback has been putting up pedestrian numbers, the Cardinals have had to rely more on the rushing attack, and so far that has gotten the job done. Edwards is a dangerous back, rumbling for 543 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games.

The Cardinals managed to win last Saturday despite allowing 413 total yards, including 283 yards through the air. The reason Ball State was able to overcome is because the defense forced three turnovers, which is impressive considering the team went into that game with only five takeaways.

Defensively the Cardinals have fallen short time and time again on the year, and where they have struggled the most is against the run, as the team is surrendering 216.7 ypg and has already allowed 15 touchdowns via the run.

However, in the win over Ohio the defense allowed just 130 yards, which is great compared to the team's season numbers. Unfortunately not all was well for this unit, because Ohio was able to torch the secondary for three touchdowns.

There were a few big time players in this game though, and the performances of Aaron Morris, Andrew Puthoff and Joshua Howard certainly played a role in the win. Morris finished with a team-high nine tackles and he also forced two fumbles. As for Puthoff, he collected eight stops, four TFLs and one sack, while Howard hauled in an interception and also recovered a fumble.

The Cardinals are going to have problems with Radcliff and company, but at the same time Central Michigan does not want to square off against a talented back like Edwards. Ball State has the players to eat up the clock down the stretch, so look for the Cardinals to keep CMU at bay throughout the game.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Ball State 31, Central Michigan 27