Talking Bull: Welcome to the Party UMass

Remember those days when UB was a staple of ESPN's "Bottom 10"

The Bottom 10 struts down the runway after Week 1 - ESPN
It was a vintage Yankee Conference clash, minus the competition. After its first week in FBS, UMass holds the dubious distinction of being the only FBS member that didn't put any points on the board. The Minutemen racked up 59 yards of offense in a 37-0 loss to UConn.

UMass has a much better program now than UB did when we moved up so perhaps they won't spend as many seasons as a Fizture here but teams like Akron sure are happy to have someone else steal the spotlight.

Buffalo Basketball

Trippin': Buffalo builds off Canada trip, but everything relies on mid-major star - CBSSports.com
It definitely seems like he's headed toward something of a watershed year, regardless. Without a minimum or duplicated production from McCrea, there's little chance Buffalo can contend in the MAC. Playing into a possible future career in the NBA, the past two seasons have seen McCrea work with a safety net around him. He's deferred to older teammates a lot. But now, Buffalo enters the 2012-13 season without four of its five leading scorers from last season.

Losing Watt was huge but Talent wise this team matches up pretty well with any the Bulls have had in the past decade. The Trip to Canada should have helped some of the players shake off the cobweba and get used to playing with each other.

I would be very surprised if UB is not in the MAC Mix

This weeks "Numerical"

A fun feature from the mothership

The Numerical, Week 1: Pretty Stadiums And Passing Against Air - SBNation.com
17.5. Illinois' turnover points margin in a 24-7 win over Western Michigan. Other teams had higher margins -- Missouri was plus-25.5 versus Southeastern Louisiana, Mississippi State was plus-21.4 versus Jackson State and UCF was plus-20.1 versus Akron -- but this margin exceeded Illinois' actual margin of victory, as did Northwestern's against Syracuse (plus-15.7 in a one-point win), Washington's against San Diego State (plus-14.1 in a nine-point win) and Ohio's against Penn State (plus-13.9 in a 10-point win). And, of course, turnovers allowed Wake Forest (plus-9.2 turnover points margin) to stave off Liberty's upset bid by three points. Liberty outgained the Demon Deacons by a whopping 70 yards, but mistakes doomed them. (Meanwhile, Youngstown State outgained Pitt by 12 yards and won the turnover points margin by 10.9. That's how you close on an upset.)

Buffalo vs Morgan State Links

Disciplined Way means more on field production - UB Football - The Buffalo News
Still, the transformation was not complete. Another arduous offseason in the weight room has Way tipping the scales at 285 and the results of his dedication blossomed in Sanford Stadium against the Bulldogs. He was in on six tackles, had two tackles for losses and sacked Georgia quarterback and Heisman hopeful Aaron Murray twice in the first half. That showing earned Way the designation of Mid-American Conference East Defensive Player of the Week, an honor all the more notable in that it came out of a game against an SEC team.

In Two-Deep: Khalil Mack Returns As Buffalo Starting Linebacker - Hustle Belt
Welcome to In Two-Deep, a feature we're trying here on all the depth charts in the MAC and how they change from week-to-week. Many of these changes reflected starts from last week but also factor in injuries, performances and return from suspensions. Warning: because of the play on words, this feature may contain Genesis songs.

Morgan State Athletics - Bears Face Buffalo on Saturday at 6 p.m.
The Bears (1-0, 0-0) will begin the first of four consecutive road tests when they travel north to face Buffalo Bulls on Saturday (Sept. 8). The Bulls, a member of the BCS, enter the 2012 season under the leadership of second-year head coach Jeff Quinn. Buffalo is coming off a 45-23 loss at Georgia and will be hosting the Bears for a home-opener at UB Stadium. Morgan State pulled out a 30-27 victory against Sacred Heart in a game that was decided after four overtimes last Saturday in Hughes Stadium. Game time at UB Stadium is scheduled for 6 p.m.