Back to MAC play and a solid test for the Bulls awaits the team this week when Ohio comes to Amherst. The Bobcats will have to contend with a UB offense which has seemed more effective outside the redzone but which has struggled to put up points.
The Buffalo Offense:
| Category | National | Actual | National Leader | Actual | Conf | MAC Leader |
Actual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Offense | 59 | 148.6 | Georgia Tech | 378.2 | 6 | Eastern Mich. | 233 |
| Passing Offense | 96 | 187.6 | Houston | 451.2 | 9 | Western Mich. | 331.5 |
| Total Offense | 95 | 336.2 | Houston | 610 | 8 | Northern Ill. | 467.6 |
| Scoring Offense | 108 | 17.8 | Oregon | 52 | 10 | Northern Ill. | 37.2 |
| Turnover Margin | 41 | 0.4 | Rutgers | 2.75 | 3 | Toledo | 1.4 |
| Sacks Allowed | 69 | 2 | Oregon | 0.25 | 9 | Ball St. | 0.8 |
While the awful performance against Tennessee pulls down the season averages in yards gained but the struggle to score when it counts has haunted UB all season.
The Ohio Defense:
Ohio will have to work without tackle Neal Huynh this week. Huynh, a run-stopper in the middle, usually demands double-teams. Buffalo's running game will face schemes rather than the intimidating run stuffer. Ohio may do everything that can to stop the run force Chazz Anderson to beat them in the Air..
| Category | National | Actual | National Leader |
Actual | Conf | MAC Leader |
Actual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Defense | 30 | 105 | Alabama | 39.6 | 2 | Temple | 91.6 |
| Pass Eff Defense | 7 | 91.83 | UCF | 73.36 | 1 | Ohio | 91.83 |
| Total Defense | 14 | 286.6 | Michigan St. | 173.4 | 2 | Temple | 279.4 |
| Scoring Defense | 16 | 16.4 | Alabama | 8.4 | 2 | Temple | 13.4 |
| Pass Defense | 20 | 181.6 | UCF | 103.5 | 3 | Akron | 163 |
| Passing Efficiency | 36 | 148.2 | Georgia Tech | 260.48 | 4 | Western Mich. | 157.36 |
| Sacks | 50 | 2.2 | Texas A&M | 4.5 | 6 | Temple | 3 |
| Tackles For Loss | T-25 | 7.2 | Louisville | 9 | 2 | Miami (OH) | 8.25 |
The Bobcats have are top five in the conference in just about every defensive category. While their schedule might look soft it included Rutgers, and New Mexico team that has a win against the Big10. Against Kent it was the defense that kept the Bobcats in the game.
The Key Players:
| BUFFALO | Player | National | Actual | Conf | OHIO | Player | National | Actual | Conf | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing | Branden Oliver | 34 | 100 | 4 | Interceptions | Keith Moore | T-48 | 0.4 | T-3 | |
| Chazz Anderson | 40.6 | 15 | Travis Carrie | T-48 | 0.4 | T-3 | ||||
| Passing Effi | Chazz Anderson | 107.83 | 12 | Xavier Hughes | T-48 | 0.4 | T-3 | |||
| Total Offense | Chazz Anderson | 64 | 216.8 | 7 | Nathan Carpenter | T-48 | 0.4 | T-3 | ||
| Branden Oliver | 100 | 17 | Joe Stefanski | 0.25 | T-14 | |||||
| Rec / Game | Marcus Rivers | T-60 | 5.4 | 6 | Jelani Woseley | 0.2 | T-20 | |||
| Alex Neutz | T-87 | 4.8 | T-11 | Omar Leftwich | 0.2 | T-20 | ||||
| Rec Yards Per Game | Alex Neutz | 62.4 | T-10 | Sacks | Tremayne Scott | 0.4 | T-14 | |||
| Marcus Rivers | 57 | 13 | Tackles | |||||||
| Scoring | Branden Oliver | 6 | T-14 | Tackles For Loss | Tremayne Scott | 0.8 | T-23 | |||
| Chazz Anderson | 3.6 | T-25 | Neal Huynh | 0.8 | T-23 | |||||
| All-Purpose Runners | Branden Oliver | T-93 | 111 | T-9 |
Corey Hasting is tasked with replacing Neal Huynh in the middle of the Ohio defense. Hasting is roughly three inches shorter and 50 pounds lighter than Huynh. But he is a very athletic playe who might be able to use his speed to stall the Buffalo Running Game.