Upcoming Match-ups

Buffalo Laying 7.5 Points vs Toledo; Bulls 4-1 ATS Last Five Games

Blair Johnson

by Blair Johnson in College Football

Updated Apr 9, 2020 · 12:17 PM PDT

UB Football
The Bulls will become bowl-eligible with a victory Wednesday when they are over a touchdown favorite vs Toledo. Photo by @UBFootball (Twitter)
  • The Buffalo Bulls are 7.5-point favorites against the Toledo Rockets in a home game Wednesday
  • Buffalo is 4-1 ATS in its last five games following a heartbreaking 30-27 loss at Kent State last Thursday
  • Toledo is coming off a 31-28 loss to Northern Illinois that saw the Rockets fall after a 25-yard field goal in the final minute

The Buffalo Bulls (5-5, 3-3 MAC) are 7.5-point favorites against the Toledo Rockets (6-4, 3-3 MAC) in a home game Wednesday at 7:30 pm EST. Buffalo is 4-1 against the spread in its last five games following a heartbreaking loss to Kent State last week that saw the Bulls blow a 27-6 fourth quarter lead. Meanwhile, Toledo is coming off a 31-28 loss to Northern Illinois that saw the Rockets rally from a 21-point deficit only to fall after NIU converted a 25-yard field goal in the final minute.

Toledo Rockets vs Buffalo Bulls Odds

Team Moneyline Spread Over/Under
Toledo +250 +7.5 (+105) O 54.5 (-110)
Buffalo -300 -7.5 (-115) U 54.5 (-110)

Odds taken Nov. 18

When you look at the Toledo vs Buffalo odds, it may seem strange to see the Bulls as such heavy favorites. After all, Toledo is still in the hunt for a berth in the MAC Championship Game. But the Rockets need to win their final two games and get some help for that happen. Who has the edge and what’s the best bet in this #MACtion prime time tussle?

Two-Headed Monster

One, err … two, reasons, why Buffalo may be favored by more than a touchdown against Toledo, is the two-headed monster in the backfield of running backs Jaret Patterson and Kevin Marks.

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Sophomore Patterson is second in the league with 1,136 yards on the ground (and seven touchdowns) this season, while Marks is eighth in the MAC with 783 yards and six scores. The tandem has helped the Bulls to the second-best rushing attack in the MAC at 226.5 yards per game. Meanwhile, Toledo’s rushing defense is ninth in the conference, giving up 197.5 yards per game. Advantage: Buffalo.

Bull-ish on Defense

The Bulls can play a little defense too. UB head coach Lance Leipold’s group is the top-ranked unit in the MAC , holding opponents to 23.1 points and 292.8 yards per game. Junior defensive end Taylor Riggins leads the league with 7.5
sacks and fellow pass rusher Malcolm Koonce has 7.0 sacks. That’s another fairly formidable duo for the home team.

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Toledo starting quarterback Eli Peters is the third signal-caller to see action in 2019 and the junior figures to be under duress with Riggins and Koonce wreaking havoc.

Big Game for Both Teams

As noted above, the Rockets still have an outside shot at the league title game if they can pick up a road win this week and beat Central Michigan the day after Thanksgiving. And the Bulls will become bowl-eligible with a victory Wednesday.

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Toledo leads the all-time series 7-4, but the Bulls beat the Rockets 31-17 in Toledo last year. And recent history favors Buffalo too, as the Bulls are 4-1 against the spread in their last five outings. Buffalo was rolling in Week 12 against Kent State before surrendering a 21-point lead and ultimately losing.

With its considerable ground game, stout defense, and motivation to become bowl-eligible, not to mention get that bad taste out of its mouth from last week, I like the Bulls to pick up the win in this spot. Go ahead and lay those points and fade the Rockets.

Pick: Buffalo at -7.5

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