#303-304
7:00pm ET / 4:00pm PT
MAC Conference
BUFFALO BULLS @ OHIO UNIVERSITY BOBCATS
2** Play on: OVER THE TOTAL
The race for the EAST division of the MAC Conference is still up for grabs, and the outcome of THIS game will play a huge role in determining who will play Northern Illinois for the championship. With tonight’s host (OHIO U) favored by only a field goal, this one could very well come right down to the wire. It could be on go those ‘last team with the ball WINS’ type of scenarios. And of course, with a pointspread this LOW… then OVERTIME is also a possibility (which OVER bettors would love). The traveling Bulls are red-hot, winning 5 straight games including a 51-42 shootout vs Miami-Ohio two weeks ago… and then pouring in 48 points in a weekday win over Kent last week. So if the underdog Bulls WIN tonight, its on to the MAC Championship game. If Ohio wins, then they would have to beat Akron next week (easy enough)… and then hope that Buffalo collapses against Bowling Green. Obviously, the OVER is the was to go when it comes to the Total. After all, we’re talking about TWO of the Top Three scoring offenses in the MAC (Ohio: 39.3 ppg / Buffalo: 36.2 ppg). And, TWOP of the Top Three quarterbacks in this conference as well. Nathan Rourke of the host Bobcats is #1 in the conference, with a QB rating of 163.3, and a TD-INT ratio of 19-5. Meanwhile, big man Tyree Jackson of Buffalo (who WILL be in the NFL some day) is ranked #2 in the conference… with a QB rating of 143.8, and a TD-INT ratio of 24 to 8.
Neither of these schools are strangers to shootouts. Ohio has scored 49 or MORE points in four of their last six games (58 vs UMass / 52 vs Ball St / 49 vs Bowling Green / 59 vs Western Michigan). Buffalo has scored 34 or MORE points in SEVEN of their nine games this season. Not only that, but the Bulls record of 7-2 O/U for the season is tied for 3rd BEST ‘Over’ team in all of college football (Utah St: 8-1-1 O/U / Oklahoma, Old Dominion, Texas Tech 8-2 O/U). Their high-powered offense has led them to a couple of FIRSTS: a 9-1 overall record (best ever)… and a perfect 6-0 record in MAC Conference play. Head Coach Lance Leopold’s great offense can hurt teams via the ground… OR thru the air. Buffalo ranks #2 in the conference in BIG PLAYS of 40 or more yards (15 this season), and in fact… has also had five offensive plays of 70 yards or more. So they can basically ‘take it to the house’ from any spot on the field. Our database models strongly point to a game of 71 or more points this evening. Let’s not forget that last night’s MAC game had 83 combined points (Ball St vs W Michigan)…