Ohio Bobcats at Buffalo Bulls
UB Stadium – Buffalo, New York
Tuesday, November 5, 2013, 8:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Opening Line: Buffalo -2 1/2 (-116)
Current Line: Buffalo -4 (-105)
Opening Total: 54
Current Total 54
Opening Money Line: Buffalo -160 / Ohio +140
Current Money Line: Buffalo -165 / Ohio +145
Both the Buffalo Bulls and Ohio Bobcats are 6-2 this season. The Bulls host the Bobcats Tuesday in a battle for first place in the MAC East Division. Buffalo is 4-0 in conference, alone in first place in the division. Ohio is 3-1 and tied with Bowling Green for second. Neither team has played Bowling Green yet. The Falcons play 0-8 Miami-(Ohio) Tuesday so an Ohio win would likely create a 3 way tie for the division lead.
Ohio leads the series 12-7 against Buffalo, and the series dates back to 1949. The Bobcats won last year’s meeting 38-31 in Athens after overcoming an early 14-0 deficit.
Ohio is coached by Frank Solich. The Bobcats have losses at Louisville 49-7 and were upset at home by Central Michigan 26-23. Ohio has home wins over North Texas 27-21, Marshall 34-31, Austin Peay 38-0, and two weeks ago against Miami-(OH) 41-16, along with road wins at Akron 43-3 and Eastern Michigan 56-28. The Bobcats are 5-3 ATS and the total is 2-6 this season. Ohio was a 26 point favorite against Miami and the total was 50.
Ohio took an early 14-0 lead against Miami. The Bobcats would expand the lead to 24-10 by halftime. Ohio kicked a field goal in the third quarter to make it 27-10. The Bobcats added another touchdown early in the fourth to make the score 34-10. It looked like Ohio had a shot at covering the 26 point spread, but the RedHawks would score 3 minutes alter to make it 34-16. Miami missed a two point conversion. The Bobcats would add another touchdown late in the game to make the 41-16. Ohio had 535 total yards including 306 passing and 229 rushing yards. Miami had 240 total yards and 16 first downs. Each team had one turnover.
Ohio is outscoring teams 34-22. The Bobcats are #39 in scoring and #30 in points allowed nationally. Ohio is averaging 428.4 yards per game including 275.1 passing and 153.2 rushing yards. The Bobcats are 332 in passing and #83 in rushing nationally. On defense, Ohio is allowing 375 yards per game including 220.2 passing and 154.8 rushing yards. The Bobcats are #38 in total defense nationally. Ohio is +2 in turnovers with 16 takeaways. The Bobcats average 52 penalty yards per game and opponents average 70 yards per game. Ohio is 57/117 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 65/137. The Bobcats have forced 28 sacks and allowed 6 this season. Ohio is 33/42 scoring in the red zone with 25 touchdowns and opponents are 16/24 with 12 touchdowns. The Bobcats have three defensive touchdowns and have allowed a kick return for a touchdown.
Ohio quarterback Tyler Tettleton has completed 68% of his passes for 2,029 yards with 17 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Back-up quarterbacks Derrius Vick and J.D. Sprague have each take a few snaps this year. Each has a rushing touchdown. Running back Beau Blankenship has 118 carries for 550 yards and 4 touchdowns, plus 11 catches for 42 yards. Ryan Boykin has 94 carries for 364 yards and 6 touchdowns along with 9 catches for 59 yards and a touchdown. Daz’mond Patterson has 24 carries for 146 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 7 catches for 43 yards. Bobcat receiver Donte Foster has 50 catches for 718 yards and 6 touchdowns. Chase Cochran has 25 catches, 557 yards and 3 touchdowns. Matt Waters has 26 catches, 360 yards and 3 touchdowns. Tight end Troy Hill has 11 catches for 148 yards and 2 touchdowns. Four little used receivers and tight ends are listed as questionable or out, as are 3 defensive players and two offensive linemen.
Buffalo is coached by Jeff Quinn. The Bulls opened the season with road losses at still undefeated teams currently ranked in the top six nationally Ohio State 40-20 and Baylor 70-13. Buffalo has won six straight since then with home wins over Stony Brook 26-23 in five overtimes, Connecticut 41-12, Eastern Michigan 42-14, and Massachusetts 32-3, along with road wins at Western Michigan 33-0, and two weeks ago at Kent State 41-21. The Bulls are 6-2 ATS and the total is 6-2 as well. Buffalo was a 3 point favorite at Kent State and the total was 49.
Buffalo took an early 6-0 lead at Kent State but the extra point was blocked. The Bulls would expand the lead to 20-7 by halftime. Buffalo scored two touchdowns to open the third quarter to make it 34-7. The Golden Flashes pulled to within 34-21 early in the fourth, but the Bulls added another touchdown less than a minute later to make the final 41-21. Buffalo had 491 total yards including 206 rushing yards. Kent State had 363 total yards including 260 passing yards. The Golden Flashes had the only two turnovers of the game. The two teams combined for 14 penalties for 115 yards.
Buffalo is outscoring teams 31-23 this season. The Bulls are averaging 380.9 yards per game including 208.2 passing and 172.6 rushing yards. Buffalo is 65th or worse in all offensive categories. On defense, the Bulls are allowing 380.2 yards per game including 239 passing and 141.2 rushing yards. The Bulls are in the top 50 nationally in total defense, rush defense and points allowed. Buffalo is +15 in turnovers with 21 takeaways. The Bulls average 63 penalty yards per game and opponents average 66. Buffalo is 49/129 on third and fourth down conversions and opponents are 43/121. The Bulls have forced 25 sacks and allowed 7 this season. Buffalo is 26/32 scoring in the red zone with 22 touchdowns and opponents are 18/26 with 13 touchdowns. Buffalo has three pick sixes and a kickoff return for a touchdown, and has allowed a fumble return for a touchdown.
Buffalo quarterback Joe Licata has completed 60.5% of his passes for 1,569 yards with 14 touchdowns and 4 interceptions, along with a rushing touchdown. Running back Branden Oliver has 180 carries for 874 yards and a touchdown, along with 9 catches for 80 yards. Anthone Taylor has 57 carries for 215 yards with 2 touchdowns, along with 3 catches. James Potts has 49 carries for 174 yards. Receiver Alex Neutz has 39 catches, 628 yards and 7 touchdowns. Fred Lee has 35 catches for 404 yards with 3 touchdowns. Devin Campbell has 14 catches for 153 yards, along with 2 rushing touchdowns and a kickoff return for a touchdown. Mason Schreck has only 11 catches fro 79 yards but two of them went for touchdowns. Three defensive players are listed as questionable or out.
Ohio is 7-1-1 after a bye week, 5-1 after gaining more than 450 total yards, 8-3 against teams with winning records, 5-2 overall, and on fieldturf, 3-7 after a straight up win, 3-9 in MAC games, 2-6 after rushing for 200 yards or more, 1-4 against teams with winning home records, after allowing 275 yards or less, and after allowing 20 points or less, 1-5 in November, 1-6 after allowing less than 170 passing yards, 1-7 after a straight up win of 20 points or more, and 0-9 after scoring 40 points or more. The underdog is 5-1 ATS in the last six in this series.
Buffalo is 5-0 ATS after a straight up win, overall and on fieldturf, 4-0 in MAC games, after a cover, after rushing for more than 200 yards and gaining more than 450 total yards, 5-1-1 at home, 1-4 against teams with winning records, 2-8 against teams with winning road records, 2-8-2 in November, 2-9-1 after a bye week, and 0-5 after passing for 280 yards or more. The last five games in this series have gone over the total.
Buffalo has been red hot recently winning six straight games, the last five by 20 points or more. They aren’t spectacular on offense or defense but they just play solid football. That is similar to how Ohio plays too. Since Solich took over the program, the Bobcats win 8 or 9 games every year and go to a bowl game. Each of these teams are good at getting pressure on the opposing quarterback and protecting their own. I think this game comes down to turnovers. Buffalo doesn’t have many turnovers but forces a lot. The Bulls win a close game at home.
