Northwestern Wildcats defeat Ball State Cardinals 45-14: Recap, Betting Results & AiQ Picks
Sat, Oct 10, 2026 · NCAAF · Ball State Cardinals 14, Northwestern Wildcats 45
The Northwestern Wildcats beat the Ball State Cardinals 45-14 on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Ryan Field. The Ball State Cardinals covered the spread as 35-point underdogs. The game went over the pregame total of 52.5, with 59 points combined. AiQ's player props in this game went 5-8.
Ball State Cardinals vs. Northwestern Wildcats final score and game recap
The Northwestern Wildcats led 14-0 after the first quarter and 31-14 at halftime. They outscored the Ball State Cardinals 14-0 in the second half. They led at the end of every quarter.
The leading performers, from the box score:
- Keldric Luster (Ball State Cardinals): 27/41 passing for 209 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception.
- Jabari Smith (Ball State Cardinals): 7 catches for 64 yards.
- Aidan Chiles (Northwestern Wildcats): 17/23 passing for 272 yards, 3 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.
- Griffin Wilde (Northwestern Wildcats): 8 catches for 144 yards, 1 receiving touchdown.
Who covered the spread in Ball State Cardinals vs. Northwestern Wildcats?
The Ball State Cardinals covered the spread as 35-point underdogs, losing by 31 points. No closing spread is on file, so this uses the line AiQ recorded before the game, Northwestern Wildcats -35.
Did Ball State Cardinals vs. Northwestern Wildcats go over or under the total?
The game went over: 59 points combined against a pregame total of 52.5, over by 6.5. No closing total is on file, so this is the line AiQ priced before the start. 45 of the 59 points came in the first half.
How did AiQ's Ball State Cardinals vs. Northwestern Wildcats predictions do?
AiQ's player props in this game went 5-8.
- Moneyline: the Northwestern Wildcats to win, a win. No price is on file for it, so it stays out of AiQ's record.
- Player props: 5-8, -$354.67 on $100 a pick at the listed prices.
Ball State Cardinals vs. Northwestern Wildcats player prop results
AiQ's player prop picks went 5-8 in this game, -$354.67 on $100 a pick at the listed prices.
- Joseph Himon II (Northwestern Wildcats): to score a touchdown at -255, a loss.
- TJ Horton (Ball State Cardinals): to score a touchdown at +245, a win.
- Griffin Wilde: over 3.5 receptions at -143, finished with 8, a win.
- Drew Wagner: under 36.5 receiving yards at -112, finished with 61, a loss.
- Griffin Wilde: under 73.5 receiving yards at -112, finished with 144, a loss.
- Aidan Chiles (Northwestern Wildcats): to score a touchdown at -250, a win.
- Aidan Chiles (Northwestern Wildcats): under 2.5 passing touchdowns at -205, finished with 3, a loss.
- Aidan Chiles (Northwestern Wildcats): under 229.5 passing yards at -112, finished with 272, a loss.
- Caleb Komolafe (Northwestern Wildcats): over 86.5 rushing yards at -112, finished with 44, a loss.
- Aidan Chiles (Northwestern Wildcats): under 21.5 rushing yards at -112, finished with 32, a loss.
- Drew Wagner: over 2.5 receptions at -172, finished with 4, a win.
- Donovan Hamilton (Ball State Cardinals): to score a touchdown at +600, a loss.
- 1 more pick is in the record above but not listed.
Ball State Cardinals vs. Northwestern Wildcats game prop results: team totals, first half and first quarter
AiQ does not pick game props. This is how the sportsbook markets settled.
- Northwestern Wildcats team total 44.5: the over, paying -113, with 45 scored.
- First-half total 30.5: the over, paying -105, with 45 points scored.
- First-quarter moneyline: Northwestern Wildcats won the first quarter.
- First-half moneyline: Northwestern Wildcats won the first half.
- Ball State Cardinals team total 7.5: the over, paying -106, with 14 scored.
- First-quarter total 13.5: the over, paying -154, with 14 points scored.
- First-half spread: Ball State Cardinals +20.5 covered, paying -102.
Ball State Cardinals and Northwestern Wildcats betting trends: 2026 season
This result left the Ball State Cardinals 1-5 in the 2026 regular season (1-1 at home, 0-4 away or at neutral sites). Against the spread, they covered in 2 of 5 games with a closing line on file. Their games went over the closing total 4 times and under 1 time. That made it four straight losses for the Ball State Cardinals.
This result left the Northwestern Wildcats 4-1 in the 2026 regular season (4-0 at home, 0-1 away or at neutral sites). Against the spread, they covered in 4 of 4 games with a closing line on file. Their games went over the closing total 2 times and under 0 times, with 2 pushes. That made it two straight wins for the Northwestern Wildcats.
What's next for Ball State Cardinals and Northwestern Wildcats?
Next for the Ball State Cardinals: at the Bowling Green Falcons on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Next for the Northwestern Wildcats: at the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, October 17, 2026.