Western Michigan Opens MAC Play As Solid Road Favorite At Buffalo

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Western Michigan has had an impressive beginning to the college football season and is now gearing up to face Buffalo on the road in their first Mid-American Conference game of the year.

After a challenging start against Michigan, the Broncos have managed to secure three consecutive victories. Notably, they achieved an upset against Pitt, an ACC team, while playing away from home.

WMU is now preparing to start its league schedule on the road. Can they maintain their winning streak?

Western Michigan at Buffalo: NCAA Football Odds

Western Michigan a road favorite at Buffalo

Western Michigan’s recent performance is catching the attention of oddsmakers.

The Bulls are set to face the Broncos in their MAC opener, with Western Michigan being favored by 6.5 points as the away team according to early listings.

As of Tuesday morning, Caesars Sportsbook had Western listed at -240 on the moneyline, while BetMGM Sportsbook had Buffalo listed at +200.

Mostly, the over/under total for Saturday’s clash was set at 59 points.

Please refer to our real-time odds tracker above to find the most favorable odds and totals for both sides of the line.

This season, the Broncos have a 3-1 record against the spread, with the under coming through in three out of four games. On the other hand, Buffalo has a 2-2 record against the spread, and the over and under have been evenly split at 2-2 in 2021.

Buffalo has a historical record of 2 wins and 7 losses against Western Michigan. Moreover, Western Michigan has emerged victorious in their previous two meetings. Despite this, the Bulls have managed to cover the spread in four out of the last five encounters.

How to watch: Western Michigan at Buffalo

• Western Michigan, with a record of 3-1 overall and 0-0 in the MAC conference, will be facing Buffalo, who holds a record of 2-2 overall and 0-0 in the conference.
• The date and time specified is Saturday, October 2nd, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time.
• The location is UB Stadium, situated in Buffalo, N.Y.
• CBS Sports Network is a television channel.
• Livestreaming now: CBS Sports App available online.
• Radio: The network broadcasting the Bronco Radio Network.

WMU locks up San Jose State

Western relied on its defense in a 23-3 victory against San Jose State at home last week, following a high-scoring 44-41 shootout win against Pitt two weeks prior.

The Broncos put on a dominant performance, limiting the Spartans to a mere 119 total yards, with just 59 yards gained through passing. Additionally, the defensive unit forced three turnovers, recorded eight sacks, and made 10 tackles for loss.

The WMU offense only needed to be efficient, and it certainly was. Kaleb Eleby demonstrated this by throwing for 200 yards and two touchdowns on 17 of 28 passing. In the span of four games, Eleby has not thrown a single interception, but has managed to accumulate seven touchdowns and 902 passing yards.

Against SJSU, Western accumulated 147 yards on 43 carries in their ground attack. Sean Taylor and La’Darius Jefferson stood out with 12 carries each, displaying an even distribution in the backfield. Tyler has accumulated 282 yards this season, while Jefferson closely trails behind with 274 yards.

Title implications in MAC football opener

This being the inaugural MAC game for both teams, it appears that its outcome will significantly influence the season race.

BetMGM currently considers the Broncos and Bulls as top contenders in the MAC.

The current odds for Western Michigan to win the title are +600, while Buffalo’s odds are +700.

Toledo emerges as the frontrunner with odds of +200, whereas Ball State and Kent State both stand at +400.

Toledo has already secured a victory of 22-12 against Ball State this season.

Since the inception of the championship game in the MAC conference, the Broncos and Bulls have each emerged victorious once. In 2016, WMU secured the title, while Buffalo claimed the victory in 2008. Additionally, both teams have experienced defeat in the title game on two occasions.

Buffalo edges Old Dominion

Buffalo has had an exhilarating few weeks.

Two weeks ago, the Bulls suffered a narrow defeat at home against Coastal Carolina, losing by a score of 28-25. However, they quickly bounced back with a thrilling 35-34 victory on the road against Old Dominion last week.

At halftime, Buffalo held a commanding 35-7 lead. Surprisingly, ODU managed to narrow the gap and came within a single point of tying the game. However, their hopes were dashed when they missed the extra point attempt with only 19 seconds remaining on the clock.

In the victory, Buffalo’s total yardage fell short at 297 compared to their opponent’s 433. The Bulls’ defense allowed Old Dominion University to accumulate 209 rushing yards. However, the defense managed to shine with five sacks and three turnovers forced, including a blocked kick resulting in a score and a fumble recovery leading to another score.

In terms of offense, Kyle Vantrease had a remarkable performance, throwing for 191 yards and scoring a touchdown from 17 of his 26 passing attempts. Throughout the season, he has accumulated a total of 792 yards and two touchdowns, with only one interception.

Kevin Marks Jr., Dylan McDuffie, and Ron Cook Jr. form a trio in Buffalo’s backfield, contributing a combined 672 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

This WMU defense will present a challenge for the Bulls, as they are ranked 33rd nationally in total defense (allowing 304.3 yards per game) and 32nd in passing defense (allowing 179.8 yards per game).

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