Two schools that like to run the football, Coach Frank Solich and the Ohio Bobcats (-2.5) are gearing up to face off against the Buffalo Bulls at UB Stadium. ESPN+ will televise the action and the game’s scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
Betting Preview: Ohio Bobcats at Buffalo Bulls
Buffalo enters this MAC game as the underdog and is currently receiving 2.5 points. The Bobcats are also receiving -140 moneyline odds while the Bulls are +120. If one side can create a bunch of points early on it’ll create a decent live betting opportunity. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 54.5 points.
This game’s total hasn’t moved after being set initially at 54.5. Having said that, the line opened at 1.5 and has recently moved up to 2.5.
The less-than-stellar Bobcats are 1-3 against the spread (ATS) and have lost 3.5 units so far in 2019. The team has posted an O/U record of 2-2.
The Bulls are up 1.4 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 1-4 ATS and own an O/U record of 3-2.
The Bobcats are 1-3 straight up (SU) and they haven’t faced any MAC competition yet. The Bulls are 2-3 SU overall and 0-1 SU in conference play.
When these two teams met a year ago, Ohio won by five touchdowns 52-17.
The Bobcats look to get back on track after a 45-25 loss to Louisiana on September 21Their defense allowed the Ragin’ Cajuns to run for 285 yards on 46 rush attempts, including four rush TDs. Elijah Mitchell logged a good day for the Ragin’ Cajuns in that one with 143 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 17 attempts. Offensively, Nathan Rourke completed just 18-of-38 passes for 277 yards, one score and three interceptions. De’Montre Tuggle (31 rushing yards on 10 attempts) led the ground attack. Ryan Luehrman (four receptions, 69 yards) and Shane Hooks (three catches, 96 yards, one TD) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
One week ago, Miami (OH) got the victory against this Buffalo crew by a score of 34-20. The Bulls defense allowed the RedHawks to run for 145 yards on 55 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. Jaylon Bester had a productive showing in the win for Miami (OH), recording 107 rushing yards and a score on 24 attempts. For Buffalo, Matt Myers completed four-of-16 passes for 59 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Jaret Patterson (183 rushing yards on 22 attempts, one TD) and Kevin Marks (101 yards on 17 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running game as Antonio Nunn (two receptions, 30 yards, one TD) and Zac Lefebvre (two catches, 19 yards) led the receiving attack in the loss.
Ohio has run the ball on 52.5 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Buffalo has a rush percentage of 69.9 percent. The Bobcats have produced 159.8 rush yards/game and have seven touchdowns on the ground this year. The Bulls are putting up 240.2 rushing yards per game and have nine total rush TDs.
It appears that the Bulls could own an advantage when it comes to quarterback protection, as their offensive line has given up only seven sacks while the D-line has registered 11 sacks. The Bobcats offensive line has allowed eight sacks and their defense has recorded only five sacks.
The Bobcats offensive scheme has averaged 214.3 yards in the air overall and has six passing scores so far. The Bulls have put up 126.4 pass yards per contest and also have six total pass TDs.
On the defensive side of the ball, Ohio has allowed 208.5 rush yards and 255.5 pass yards per game. The Buffalo D has allowed 214.8 yards per game to opposing passers and 95.6 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Bobcats have given up an ANY/A of 7.65 to opposing QBs, while the Bulls are allowing an ANY/A of 7.93.
Myers has connected on 40-of-90 passes for 540 yards, six TDs and three INTs. Myers’ adjusted net yards per pass attempt stands at 5.14 for the season and -0.27 over his last two games. In the other locker room, Rourke is up to 642 passing yards this year, and has connected on 49-of-87 attempts with three passing touchdowns and three interceptions. Rourke’s got a 5.26 ANY/A, including 6.67 over the last two games.
Ohio Bobcats at Buffalo Bulls NCAA Pick
SU Winner: Ohio, ATS Winner: Ohio, O/U: Under
Team Betting Notes
- The Buffalo defense has notched more than twice the sack total of Ohio this season (11 versus five).
- Buffalo has lost five fumbles this season while Ohio has lost four.
- The Bobcats offense has created two pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Bulls have put up three such plays.
- The Ohio defense has allowed two pass plays of 40+ yards, while Buffalo has given up five such plays.
- The Ohio offense has created seven rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while Buffalo has created 11 such runs.
- The Bobcats defense has allowed nine rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bulls have given up six such runs.
- The Over/Under for Buffalo’s last game was set at 48. The over cashed in the 34-20 loss to Miami (OH).
- Over its last three contests, Buffalo is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- Over its last three contests, Ohio is 1-2 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Ohio’s previous game going into it was 68.5. The over cashed in the team’s 45-25 loss to Louisiana.
- As a team, Ohio has averaged 4.1 yards per rush attempt over its past three outings and 5.5 over its last two.
- Buffalo has averaged 4.8 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.9 over its last two.
