College Football Predictions – Buffalo Bulls 2018 NCAA Football Preview
2017 Recap
Record – 6-6
ATS – 8-2-2
The Bulls battled the entire season and finished the campaign with three consecutive wins. The final victory was over the solid Ohio Bobcats (900,000 STAR MEGALOCKS TRIPLE MAX LASER LOCK winner) but they were still snubbed when it came to getting a bowl invitation. They beat Florida Atlantic, lost a pair of one-point games (Northern Illinois, Akron) and lost an epic SEVEN OT game to Western Michigan that just finished.
The Bulls should have a chip on their shoulder this season. Can they contend for a MAC East crown? Let’s dig in.
2018 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
East Division – #3
MAC – #4
Buffalo Bulls 2018 Outlook
OFFENSE
The Bulls averaged 28.5 PPG (#5 MAC) last season and should be ready to take a step forward this year. Junior QB Tyree Jackson is a dangerous dual-threat QB who has proven to be efficient when MATRICULATING down the field in the passing game (60.3%, 12-3 TD to INT LY). Jackson battled the injury bug last season and we expect a big season from him if he can stay healthy. The WR group is one of the best in the conference and features one of the best WRs in college football that not many people know about. Anthony Johnson was a 1st Team MAC selection after snagging 76 receptions for 1,356 yards (17.8) and 14 (!) TDs. The pass protection was really good in 2017 (17 sacks allowed) and they return 3/5 starters to the offensive line. It has the potential to be one of the best in the MAC. The top three RBs return this season making it a very deep group.
Our BUFFALO INSIDERS project the first 30 PPG season since 2014.
DEFENSE
If the Bulls can find a way to maintain what they did on defense last season (24.8 PPG) they will line themselves up for a fine MAC campaign. The defense gets one more year out of tackling MACHINE LB Khalil Hodge who was 2nd in the FBS in tackles last year (154)(!) while garnering 1st Team MAC honors. They have experience and enough size on the DL and a decent looking secondary. We worry about their ability to get enough PENETRATION to disrupt opposing offenses (19 sacks LY) and hope they can find a way to pick off more than 8 passes (T10 MAC). It feels like an average MAC unit on paper.
SPECIAL TEAMS
This could be a sore spot. They lose their best weapon (P Kyle DeWeen) and were average in the return game last season. PK Adam Mitcheson was just 2/6 from 40+ yards in 2017.
Schedule Analysis
Overall – It’s a bit trickier than one might think. They start with a Delaware St lay-up, but then again, they did lose to Albany in 2016 and were life and death to beat Stony Brook in 2013. Road games at Temple and Rutgers won’t be easy and they also face a tough Army squad. Nobody on the MAC docket is unbeatable but they do face division favorite Ohio on the road.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – September 29 (Army). They have one week to get ready for the option and MACtion play is on deck.
Season Win Total
Over 6.5 -150
Under 6.5 +120
MEGALOCKS says:
Lean to the over. We like the look of the team but it’s hard to get super excited about laying -150. If you can find a better price (-110 to -120) it might be worth a small taste.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
The Bulls have never won a bowl game (0-2).
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 6.0
MEGALOCKS says:
Overall, we give the BULLS a 6.0 ATS Value Rating (Above Average) this season.
The offense looks really strong and we love the upside of QB Jackson. They may struggle early in the campaign with some tough out-of-conference games but we like their chances to win a bunch of MAC contests. They get Miami and Akron at home. The November 14th trip to Ohio might be for all the East marbles. <grabs popcorn>
Buffalo had a fine season vs the point spread last year and we can see them being a solid play on many occasions this year. Just be cautious if it appears the defense is not getting it done.
Let’s go Buffalo. Get to a bowl game and win it!
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