Buffalo Bulls at Central Michigan Chippewas – College Football Odds
The surprising Buffalo Bulls (2-2 SU, 3-1 ATS) look to continue their progress as a Mid-American Conference program when they tackle the Chippewas of Central Michigan (2-2 SU, 2-1 ATS) in NCAA college football action that is set to get underway at 4 PM ET at Kelly/Shorts Stadium (artificial turf) in Mount Pleasant, MI.
BetUS NCAA Betting Odds: CENTRAL MICHIGAN -7, Total 62
Here are some of the NCAA college football betting trends as they relate to this matchup:
* BUFF has covered four of its last five games
* BUFF has lost 17 of its last 25 games SU
* BUFF has covered four of its last five road games
* BUFF has lost 22 of its last 25 road games SU
* CMU has won ten of its last 12 home games SU
Two of the better quarterbacks you haven’t heard about will do battle in this MAC encounter. Drew WIlly of Buffalo has completed passes at a 62% rate, with a 10-3 TD-to-INT ratio. Coach Turner Gill doesn’t put the shackles on him, and he has hoisted it up 40 times or more in each of his last two games. Sure, Buffalo was outclassed by Missouri last weekend, but the Bulls were behind by only three points right before the half.
The concern might be that here they face, like Chase Daniel, another multi-threat quarterback in Dan LeFevour, who has completed 60% of his passes. Only nine quarterbacks in the country have passed for more yards than LeFevour’s 1119, and on top of that he supplies CMU’s principal rushing element, gaining 112 yards on the ground against Purdue last week in a game his team led until there was a minute to go.
James Starks, who gained 276 yards in the first two games of the season, sat out the game with Missouri due to a hip injury, but he has been classified as “probable” for this game. Depth in the running game is provided by Brandon Thermilius, son of former NFL running back Alonzo Highmsith, who had 102 yards in the season opener. Ernest Jackson, one of Willy’s favorite targets, must be considered a serious threat, as he had two TD receptions and a kickoff return for a score against the Tigers.
The point is that there is more balance on the Buffalo side, especially if Starks is ready to go, and more than enough firepower to trade points. Inasmuch as Central has not been any more proficient at defending the pass (108th in nation) than Buffalo, Willy does some business. And how could the Bulls, having faced Daniel and all-purpose stud Jeremy Maclin last week, be in awe of LeFevour & Co.?
This is another huge game for the Bulls’ program, as CMU is the defending conference champion. We will gladly take the points in this game with upstart Buffalo, the seven-point underdog in the BetUS NCAA college football betting odds.
