Buffalo vs Ohio Betting Pick
Bangura’s health must be monitored for Ohio, as the running back and Rourke look to keep the chains moving with a mixture of inside and outside zone read.
With the health of the running back in question, combined with Albin’s request that Wiglusz receives additional targets, there’s an expectation that Ohio puts the ball in the air plenty.
This effort will lead the Rourke-Wiglusz connection to Bulls slot cornerback Keyshawn Cobb when Buffalo elects to run man coverage. Ohio ranks top-10 nationally in first downs through the air, which may increase given the Bulls’ struggles to implement man coverage.
For Buffalo, Snyder has escaped pressured pockets all season with 137 scramble yards. Another 90 yards from designed runs have helped him score four rushing touchdowns, but Snyder has struggled to hold onto the ball.
The Bobcats have played behind the line of scrimmage on defense with a rank of 20th in Stuff Rate. Ohio has mid-FBS ranks in generating Havoc, but a higher mark in tackles for loss suggests that Buffalo may have issues in early downs.
The Action Network projection makes the home team the favorite by a single point, but it’s the methodology of the Bobcats offense that suggests the total is in play.
If Bangura is unable to go, Ohio will have no other option in the backfield to run quality zone-read attempts with Rourke. If Wiglusz targets take place on standard downs, Buffalo will struggle to keep points off the board, ranking 130th in FBS in defending standard downs explosiveness.
Conversely, Buffalo may have success in long down and distances when Snyder scrambles. Ohio has been one of the worst teams in the nation at pass defense, signaling that Gassett will generate big plays from the slot.
Furthermore, Ohio ranks near dead last in all analytics when defending passing downs, suggesting that scrambles from Snyder will turn into easy first downs.
The biggest key number in totals is 59, and this total is expected to steam. Both offenses have options in the pass game, where the defenses have no proven track record.
Considering the inability of both teams to tackle or defend the explosive play, we’ll start the first evening of MACtion with an over.
Read on for college football odds, picks and predictions for the game between Buffalo and Ohio on Tuesday, November 1.
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