Two teams that prefer to run the football, Head Coach Lance Leipold and the Buffalo Bulls (+2) are gearing up to take on the Ohio Bobcats (-2) at Peden Stadium. ESPN2 is scheduled to broadcast the action and this important conference matchup gets underway at 7:00 p.m. ET. These teams faced off a year ago with the final outcome being a 31-24 win for Buffalo.
Buffalo Bulls at Ohio Bobcats Betting Preview
The Bulls approach this Wednesday MAC game as the dog here and they’re currently getting 2 points. The Bulls are also receiving +100 moneyline odds while the Bobcats are -120. Oddsmakers have set the over/under (O/U) at 65.5 points, and if one school can find paydirt in the early stages, it will likely create a decent live betting opportunity.
Since the game’s O/U was placed originally at 63.5, early action has been swaying toward the over.
The profitable Bulls are 8-2 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 6.0 units so far in 2018. The team has posted an O/U record of 7-2. The Bobcats have gained 0.0 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 6-4 ATS and have an O/U record of 5-4.
The Bulls are 9-1 straight up (SU), including 6-0 SU against MAC opponents. The Bobcats are 6-4 SU overall and 4-2 SU in conference play.
The Bulls are coming off a resounding 48-14 victory over Kent State last week. The passing game was messy as the Bulls completed 9-of-21 passes for 120 yards and one touchdown. Tyree Jackson went seven-for-16 for 111 yards and one touchdown while Kyle Vantrease completed two-of-five for nine yards. Jaret Patterson (187 yards on 18 rush attempts, two TDs) and Kevin Marks (37 yards on 10 carries, one TD) spearheaded the running attack while Anthony Johnson (three receptions, 26 yards, one TD) and Charlie Jones (two catches, 43 yards) shared the receiving duties in the win.
Ohio narrowly dropped a 30-28 game to Miami (OH). The team’s defense let the RedHawks kill the clock by running for 158 yards on 35 rush attempts, including three rush TDs. Kenny Young put up a good outing in the win for Miami (OH), recording 37 rushing yards and a score on seven attempts, along with 67 yards on seven catches. For Ohio, Nathan Rourke completed 16-of-27 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. A.J. Ouellette (168 rushing yards on 15 attempts) and the signal-caller Rourke (16 yards on 13 carries) led the running game as Papi White (five receptions, 44 yards, one TD) and Cameron Odom (four catches, 31 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the loss.
Buffalo has run the ball on 58.4 percent of its offensive plays this year, including 61.2 percent across possessions in conference play. Ohio has a run percentage of 62.4 percent, and has rushed the ball 66.7 percent of the time when playing MAC opponents. The Bulls have produced 192 rush yards per game (including 221 per game versus Mid-American opponents) and have 26 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Bobcats are totaling 233 rush yards per game (239 in conference) and have 28 total rushing TDs.
The Bulls offense has tallied 236 yards per game through the air overall (245 per game versus conference opposition) and has 24 passing TDs so far. The Bobcats have put up 221 pass yards per outing (205.7 against MAC foes) and have 21 total pass scores.
Buffalo seems to have an edge when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has let opponents run for an average of 154 yards and throw for 174 yards per game. The Ohio D has allowed 269.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 145.0 yards per game to opposing runners. The Bulls are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 4.26 to opposing QBs, while the Bobcats have allowed a 7.03 ANY/A.
Offensively, Jackson has amassed 1,980 passing yards this season, and has completed 56 percent of his 262 attempts with 21 scores through the air and eight interceptions. He has a 7.52 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 10.38 over the past two games.
Nathan Rourke has completed 120-of-198 passes for 1,783 yards, 16 TDs and five INTs for Ohio. His ANY/A stands at 8.23 for the year and 8.89 across his last two outings.
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Notes
Betting Trends
Ohio has lost 10 fumbles this season while Buffalo has lost two.
The Buffalo defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 27 times this season. Ohio has registered just 20 sacks.
Buffalo has rushed for 4.4 yards per attempt over its last three outings and 5.3 over its last two.
Ohio has averaged 6.7 yards per carry over its last three games and 6.3 over its past two.
Over its last three games, Ohio is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Buffalo’s previous game going into it was 47.5. The over cashed in the team’s 48-14 win over Kent State.
Over its last three games, Buffalo is 3-0 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The O/U for Ohio’s last match was set at 59. The under cashed in that 30-28 loss to Miami (OH).
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