Quarterback
Ball State
Keith Wenning has continued to improve as he has gotten more experience this season. Though he has thrown three interceptions in each of the past two games, Stan Parrish said he is still seeing improvement and wishes the Cardinals' beat-up offensive line could block for him better. Since Wenning's terrible first half against Western Michigan on Homecoming, he seems to have turned a corner and has more defenses respecting the pass.
Akron
Sophomore Patrick Nicely has thrown just three touchdowns and has been intercepted nine times this season. He doesn't rank in the top-10 in the Mid-American Conference in any positive statistic and has a 2-13 record as a starter. He has been forced into more passing situations because Akron is often trailing in games and doesn't have many weapons around him, but Nicely hasn't done much as the Zips' quarterback yet.
Advantage - Cardinals - Wenning has showed improvement this season and hasn't been part of Ball State's problems most weeks. Nicely's stats say it all. He just hasn't been very good this season.
Running backs
Ball State
After having to rely more heavily on MiQuale Lewis than they would like to, the Cardinals should get their depth back. Parrish expects Eric Williams, Cory Sykes and David Brown to play Saturday, which should greatly help Ball State. Williams is Ball State's leading rusher. He missed the game at Toledo and was limited last week at Kent State. Getting him back is key to the Cardinals' offense.
Akron
The Zips rely almost exclusively on seniors Alex Allen and Nate Burney for their rushing attack. Both have more than 400 yards on the ground this season, and Allen has scored six touchdowns. But neither gets too many opportunities to carry the football because of Akron's large deficits. The Zips average just over 100 yards rushing per game, which ranks them 10th in the MAC.
Advantage - Cardinals - When healthy, this is the strength of Ball State. Williams and Sykes are key for the Cardinals, but even if they still aren't at full strength, Lewis should be able to shoulder the load.
Defensive line
Ball State
The Cardinals have struggled all season to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The pervasive theory for the difficulty has been subpar performances by the defensive line. Ball State didn't have a sack in its past two games and has been shutout three times this season. Despite not getting sacks lately, Robert Eddins has 24 tackles during the Cardinals' losing streak.
Akron
While the Cardinals have struggled getting sacks lately, Zips defensive end Shawn Lemon has seven sacks this year and is 18th in the nation. Lemon is just about the only Zip who has been able to get after the quarterback. The rest of the team has just five sacks combined. All four of the Zips' defensive linemen have at least 32 tackles, though.
Advantage - Zips - Even if Lemon is the only player really able to get after the quarterback, he is a force Ball State will have to pay attention to Saturday.
Secondary
Ball State
It's worth noting the last time the Cardinals and the Zips played, safety Sean Baker had three interceptions and was named national defensive player of the week by the Walter Camp Foundation. That game was in 2008, but Baker has continued to be the defense's star. His ball-hawking skills have been joined with those of sophomore cornerback Jason Pinkston, who has three interceptions this season and should have come up with another last week.
Akron
The Zips have just three interceptions this season and have given up 23 touchdown passes. Parrish said Akron has given up a few big passing plays this season, often when they get beat in one-on-one situations. Opponents have torched the Zips for 269.1 yards per game and have an average quarterback rating of 169.9869.
Advantage - Cardinals - Ball State doesn't need Baker to have another career day to win this matchup, but it wouldn't hurt in its cause to win the game.
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