A couple of schools that prefer to run the football, Coach Lance Leipold and the Buffalo Bulls (-23) are ready to take on their conference foe Kent State Golden Flashes at UB Stadium. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET and ESPNU will broadcast the action.
Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Buffalo Bulls Betting Preview
Kent State is a big road underdog here and is currently getting 23 points from bookmakers. If the Bulls fall behind in the early stages it will create a decent live betting opportunity. Bookmakers have not determined the over/under (O/U) yet.
The Golden Flashes are down 3.0 units so far and 6-3 against the spread (ATS). They’ve been a good under bet and have posted an O/U mark of 3-6. The Bulls have been a pleasant surprise for moneyline bettors this season, gaining 5.0 units. They’re 7-2 ATS and have an O/U record of 6-2.
The Golden Flashes have gone only 2-7 straight up (SU), including 1-4 SU against conference opponents. The Bulls are 8-1 SU overall and 5-0 SU in conference play.
The Golden Flashes enter after a 35-28 victory over Bowling Green last week. Woody Barrett completed 14 passes for only 157 yards and two touchdowns. Jo-el Shaw (128 yards on 26 rush attempts, two TDs) and the signal-caller Barrett (77 yards on 17 carries, one TD) led the running attack. Antwan Dixon (six receptions, 73 yards, one TD) and Isaiah McKoy (three catches, 26 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Buffalo just picked up a 51-42 win over Miami (OH). Tyree Jackson completed 20-of-34 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns. Jaret Patterson (96 yards on 23 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Jackson (22 yards on 10 carries, three TDs) led the running game as Anthony Johnson (eight receptions, 238 yards, three TDs) and K.J. Osborn (four catches, 34 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Kent State has run the ball on 54.2 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Buffalo has an overall rush percentage of 56.6 percent. The Golden Flashes have produced 178 rush yards/game (including 174 per game against Mid-American opponents) and have 16 scores on the ground this year. The Bulls are putting up 173 rush yards per game (193 in conference) and have 20 total rushing TDs.
If the results so far this season can translate to this game, then it’s looking like the Bulls could own an edge when it comes to quarterback protection, as their offensive line has allowed only eight sacks while the D-line has logged 25 sacks. The Golden Flashes O-line has allowed 34 sacks and their defense has logged only 21 sacks.
The Golden Flashes offensive scheme has logged 215 yards per contest through the air overall (218 per game versus conference opposition) and has 11 passing TDs so far. The Bulls have put up 249 pass yards per contest (269.6 against MAC foes) and have 23 total pass scores.
Defensively, Kent State has allowed 185 rush yards and 286 pass yards per game. The Buffalo defense has allowed 184.4 yards per game to opposing passers and 159.9 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bulls are allowing an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of only 4.41 to opposing QBs, while the Golden Flashes have given up a 7.82 ANY/A.
Offensively, Barrett has put up 1,717 passing yards on the year. The signal-caller has completed 61 percent of his 280 attempts with nine passing scores and eight interceptions. Barrett’s got a 4.33 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 6.54 over the last two games.
We expect the Kent State offense to mix it up in this one. Jo-el Shaw, Woody Barrett and Antwan Dixon have combined to account for 495 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns as a trio over the last couple of outings.
For the home team, Tyree Jackson has completed 134-of-234 passes for 1,901 yards, 21 TDs and five INTs. Jackson’s ANY/A sits at 8.80 for the year and 7.09 over his past two outings.
Anthony Johnson (590 receiving yards, six receiving touchdowns this season), Jaret Patterson (486 rush yards, six rush TDs) and K.J. Osborn (640 receiving yards, six receiving TDs) have combined for 644 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns over the last two games.
When these two teams faced each other last year, Buffalo knocked off Kent State by two touchdowns 27-13.
RELATED: Week 11 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: Kent State Golden Flashes vs. Buffalo Bulls
SU Winner – Buffalo, ATS Winner – Kent State
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Notes
Team Betting Trends
The Over/Under for Kent State’s previous game going into it was 67.5. The under cashed in the team’s 35-28 win over Bowling Green.
Kent State has averaged 4.2 yards per carry over its past three games and 4.3 over its last two.
Buffalo has averaged 3.8 yards per carry over its last three outings and only 3.2 over its last two.
Buffalo has lost one fumble this season while Kent State has let eight get away.
In its last three games, Kent State is 2-1 ATS and the under cashed in each of those three.
The Over/Under for Buffalo’s last matchup going into it was 53. The over cashed in the team’s 51-42 victory over Miami (OH).
In its last three matchups, Buffalo is 3-0 ATS and the under cashed in two of those three.
The Golden Flashes offense has created seven pass plays of 40+ yards, while the Bulls have accounted for 12 such plays.
The Kent State defense has allowed 12 pass plays of 40 yards or more, while Buffalo has given up seven such plays.
The Kent State offense has created 18 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Buffalo has created 10 such runs.
The Golden Flashes defense has allowed 18 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Bulls have given up seven such runs.
The Buffalo defense has registered 25 sacks on the year while Kent State has 21.
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