MACtion is not just for the midweek games in November.
We get a middle-of-the-standings matchup on Saturday as the Buffalo Bulls (4-3, 2-1 MAC) travel to Athens, Ohio, to take on the Ohio Bobcats (4-3, 2-1). Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
The oddsmakers set Ohio as a 6-point home favorite on the spread in Saturday's contest, while the total is set at over/under 44.5 points
Buffalo comes into this game with a 4-3 record and looks to bounce back from a home loss to Western Michigan. The Bulls hold a 4-3 record against the spread and have gone under in 4 games but have gone over the total in their last 3.
Ohio will look to rebound from the 30-20 loss to Miami (OH) that dropped them to 4-3. The Bobcats own a 3-4 record against the spread and have gone over in 4 games, including each of their last 2.
Read on for my Buffalo vs. Ohio predictions and my college football picks for Saturday.
Buffalo vs Ohio Odds, Lines, Pick
| Buffalo Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+5.5 -112 | 46 -110 / -110 | +180 |
| Ohio Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-5.5 -108 | 46 -110 / -110 | -218 |
- Buffalo vs Ohio spread: Ohio -5.5
- Buffalo vs Ohio over/under: 46 points
- Buffalo vs Ohio moneyline: Ohio -218
- Buffalo vs. Ohio pick: Buffalo +6
My Ohio vs. Buffalo best bet is on Bulls spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Buffalo vs Ohio Betting Preview
Buffalo Football
Pete Lembo's debut season as the head coach of Buffalo has already surpassed the team's successes from 2023.
The Bulls average 23 points per game, which ranks 101st in the FBS, and 5.0 yards per play, which ranks 116th. They have a 35.5% Success Rate and average 4.06 Points per Opportunity.
One additional area of concern that has contributed to their struggles is their 18.4% Havoc allowed mark.
Buffalo leans heavily on the running game with a 57.6% Rush Rate. Its 38 rush attempts per game rank inside of the top-40, despite ranking in the bottom 30 for total offensive plays per game.
Al-Jay Henderson is the clear leader in the backfield with 69 rush attempts for 374 yards and three touchdowns. As a team, Buffalo has a 36.8% Rush Success rate behind an offensive line that has generated 2.69 Line Yards per attempt.
CJ Ogbonna leads the passing game with 1,060 passing yards and seven touchdowns on 162 pass attempts. Buffalo, as a team, owns a 33.7% Pass Success Rate.
With just one interception, it would appear Ogbonna has managed to control the ball, but his six fumbles are among the most in the FBS. That's a large part of the team's Havoc allowed struggles.
Relative to national rankings, the defense has been slightly ahead of the offense allowing 26.3 points per game (84th) nationally, and 5.2 yards per play (49th). The Bulls allow a 41.4% Success Rate and 3.54 Points per Opportunity.
Ohio Football
Tim Albin's fourth season as head coach appears to be a slight step back from the last two years of success.
The offense ranks 108th nationally with 21.9 points per game and has averaged 5.7 yards per play. They have a 42.5% Success Rate and have averaged 3.60 Points per Opportunity.
Similar to Buffalo, Ohio is a run-first offense with a 56.8% rush rate. However, its running game is significantly more successful.
As a team, the Bobcats average 5.0 yards per attempt and 191 rushing yards per game. Leading the charge is Anthony Tyus, who has accumulated 610 rushing yards and five scores.
As a team, Ohio has a 45.4% Rush Success Rate that ranks 60th nationally behind a line that averages 2.99 Line Yards per Attempt.
Quarterback Parker Navarro is the team's second-leading rusher with 426 rushing yards and four touchdowns while being an effective, albeit unexciting, passer. Navarro is completing 65.2% of his passes for an average of 7.3 yards per attempt.
As a team, Ohio has a 38.9% Pass Success Rate and has averaged just 1.7 passes over 20 yards per game.
The defense has been fairly average as a whole, allowing 24.3 points per game and 5.3 yards per play. Its opponents have averaged a 40.6% Success Rate and 4.33 points per opportunity.
Despite creating a significant portion of their Havoc through passes deflected, the Bobcats have struggled more against the pass with a 44.1% Pass Success Rate allowed.
Buffalo vs Ohio Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Buffalo and Ohio match up statistically:
Buffalo Offense vs. Ohio Defense
 |  Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 121 | 32 | |
| Line Yards | 113 | 33 | |
| Pass Success | 125 | 108 | |
| Havoc | 83 | 67 | |
| Finishing Drives | 64 | 110 | |
| Quality Drives | 118 | 82 | |
Ohio Offense vs. Buffalo Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 60 | 61 |  |
| Line Yards | 83 | 56 | |
| Pass Success | 97 | 88 | |
| Havoc | 111 | 59 | |
| Finishing Drives | 82 | 54 | |
| Quality Drives | 95 | 80 | |
Pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 7 | 110 |
| PFF Coverage | 8 | 89 |
| Special Teams SP+ | 72 | 93 |
| Middle 8 | 113 | 67 |
| Seconds per Play | 25.4 (32) | 28.7 (103) |
| Rush Rate | 61% (24) | 60% (31) |
Buffalo vs Ohio Predictions
The market is somewhat split in this matchup. As of this writing, 66% of bets have favored Ohio to cover the spread, but 95% of the money has been in favor of Buffalo.
However, according to our PRO Report, sharp action has been tracked coming in on Ohio.
My pick on this game is to follow the money. While Ohio has been more efficient than Buffalo, it still doesn't appear to hold any meaningful advantage over the defense.
I like this spread all the way down to 3.5 (although, it probably won't get there), as I expect Buffalo to keep this final score closer than one touchdown.
Pick: Buffalo +6 (-110)
Buffalo vs Ohio Start Time, TV Channel, Location, How to Watch
| Location: | Peden Stadium, Athens, OH |
| Date: | Saturday, Oct. 26 |
| Kickoff Time: | 12 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | CBS Sports Network |
Buffalo takes on Ohio in Athens, Ohio, on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Buffalo vs Ohio Betting Trends
- 42% of bets and 94% of the money are on Buffalo to cover the spread
- 87% of bets and 93% of the money on the moneyline are on Ohio to win outright
- 86% of bets and 90% of the money are on the over
Betting trends via our live, updating NCAAF public betting & money percentages page.
Buffalo vs Ohio Weather
There will be some wind concerns in this game, but generally, the weather will be favorable in this matchup. Winds will be around 8 mph at the time of kickoff and may cause some special teams challenges but shouldn't cause any interruptions to the passing game.
