Ballymena United vs Crusaders FC
Match details. Premiership, Regular Season - 12. Kick-off is Sat 17 Oct, 15:00 Lagos time. It is played at Ballymena Showgrounds.
What's at stake. Ballymena United are 8th on 12 points after 10 games, 1 point behind Dungannon Swifts, level on points with Cliftonville FC. A win would take them above Dungannon Swifts. Crusaders FC are 6th on 15 points after 11 games, 1 point behind Carrick Rangers, 2 points clear of Dungannon Swifts. A win would take them above Carrick Rangers.
Form. Ballymena United have won three, drawn three and lost four of their last ten, 1.2 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L W W D D. In this competition Ballymena United have gone L W W D D L. Crusaders FC have won five, drawn none and lost five of their last ten, 1.5 points a game. Their last five, newest first: L L W L W. In this competition Crusaders FC have gone L L W L W L.
The numbers. Ballymena United score 1.5 and concede 1.4 a game over their last ten, with three clean sheets. Ballymena United average 4.3 corners and 1.3 cards a game. Crusaders FC score 1.4 and concede 1.9 a game over their last ten, with one clean sheet and three games without a goal. Crusaders FC average 3.7 corners and 1.7 cards a game.
Head to head. In the last ten meetings Ballymena United have won one, drawn two and lost seven. Five of the ten went over 2.5 goals and both teams scored in six. In the last four, Ballymena United won one, one was drawn and Crusaders FC won two. The last time they met, on 15 Aug 2026, it finished Ballymena United 1-2 Crusaders FC.
Where it pulls both ways. It pulls both ways: their goals for and against make Ballymena United the likelier winners, but both teams' records favour Crusaders FC; the meetings favour Crusaders FC.
The case against. Crusaders FC's record still gives them 46% to win. The meetings do not back them.
The read. Ballymena United or the draw. An open game. Their goals for and against make Ballymena United the likelier winners; both teams' records favour Crusaders FC; the meetings favour Crusaders FC. Their goals for and against point to an open game. Their records put over 2.5 goals at 69%.
The bets. Best bet: Over 1.5 Goals at 1.18, 76% on the records (Ballymena United: over 1.5 goals in 9 of 10; Crusaders FC: over 1.5 goals in 9 of 10). Backup: Ballymena United or Over 2.5 Goals at 1.22. It often rescues the bet, but it is no guarantee. Leave: Under 4.5 Goals (no unders on an open read); Under 5.5 Goals (no unders on an open read). Predicted score: Ballymena United 2-1 Crusaders FC (10% chance).
Every score's chance from both teams' checked games, never cut or rescaled. The lit square is the likeliest score that fits the read (the call and an open game).