Ball State Secondary vs. Tajae Sharpe
Ball State: Ball State sits 119th out of 127 Football Bowl Subdivision in terms of passing yards allowed, 298 yards per game. The Cardinals handed out the majority of their scholarships to players in the secondary, but are off to a slow start so far. Perhaps with another offseason to develop the secondary could stop the passing game, but it's not looking like much will change this year.
UMASS: Tajae Sharpe has recorded 77 receptions for 897 yards and four touchdowns, he is the Minutemen's favorite receiver by a long shot. He is 7th best in the nation in receiving yards and his 77 receptions is the highest in the nation. The next top receiver for UMass is Marken Michel with 29 receptions for 352 yards and four touchdowns.
Edge: UMASS. Tajae Sharpe is showing why he is one of the top threats in the nation, accounting for just under 40 percent of the teams receptions and just over 40 percent of the teams yards. The sheer volume of targets Sharpe receives should be enough for the Cardinals to be forced to lock him down or pay in yards.
Ball State Rushing Attack vs. UMass' run defense
Ball State: The Cardinals' rushing attack ranks 6th in the Mid-American Conference, averaging 166 yards per game. With freshman James Gilbert and sophomore Darian Green, Ball State has both power and speed. They started off the season running over defenses with Green averaging over 7 yards per carry the first few weeks of the season, but both have simmered down as of late.
UMass: UMass' defense has struggled against the run all season long, ranking 116th in the nation and allowing 235.7 yards per game to the tune of 5 yards per carry. With the way Ball State's offensive line has been blocking with the speed of Green and the power of Gilbert, the Cardinals should focus their game plan around pounding the ball up the middle and bouncing it outside.
Edge: Ball State. Last week against Central Michigan, the duo of Gilbert and Green combined for 88 yards on 21 carries (4.2 yards per carry). The Chippewas' rush defense compared to UMass's isn't close. Ball State's rushing duo is in line to have a blow-up game.
Ball State Pass Rush vs. UMass' Offensive Line
Ball State: The defense has 13 sacks in eight games. Led by redshirt junior edge-rusher Anthony Winbush, who has recorded four sacks this season, they have been getting more consistent pressure the past few weeks. Even with secondary struggles, the pass rush has been steadily improving.
UMass: UMass has allowed 18 sacks in seven games. Frohnhapfel has consistently had to run out of the pocket or take the sack. What is holding back the already-pass-happy offense of the Minutemen from being more powerful is their inconsistency up front to keep the quarterback on his feet.
Edge: Ball State. This is a game where Winbush could wreak havoc. The former track runner at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis could see many sack opportunities this week. Also, Josh Posley, a transfer from the University of Cincinnati, could have a breakout game for the Cardinals. This could be the way Ball State is finally able to corral a pass offense for the first time in weeks.
Ball State Rush Defense vs. UMass' Rush Offense
Ball State: Ball State's run defense is marginally better than the passing defense, ranking 91st out of 127 in the country. The Cardinals are allowing 4.56 yards per carry which is not the worst, but not where the team would ideally want to be. It is important to note that a lot of these runs come late in games after the opposing team already has a sizable lead and is killing the clock, so the numbers alone don't give the whole story.
UMASS: Fortunately for the Cardinals, UMass's run offense is as bad as the Cardinals' pass defense, ranking 119th out of 127 in the nation averaging 105 yards per game. The silver lining for them is that they are picking up decent chunks of yards when they do carry the ball, 3.9 yards per carry. If UMass can get off to a hot start and control the flow of the game, who knows what their rushing attack can bring. Typically playing from behind, they haven't shown what they can do when playing with a lead outside of their last game against Toledo.
Edge: Ball State. UMass has a respectable ground game when they're not throwing it to Tajae Sharpe, but the Cardinals rush defense should be able to penetrate through the offensive line and disrupt runners before they even get the chance. The Cardinals have had trouble sealing the edge through the year, but they should have no trouble stopping anything that comes up the middle.
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