The Miami (Ohio) RedHawks take on the Buffalo Bulls in Buffalo, N.Y. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
Miami (Ohio) is favored by 1.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -120. Buffalo, meanwhile, enters as a +1.5 underdog on the moneyline and is +100 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 40 total points.
Here’s my Miami (Ohio) vs. Buffalo prediction and college football picks for Wednesday, November 19.
Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo Prediction
- Miami (Ohio) vs. Buffalo Pick: 1H Under 19.5
My Buffalo vs. Miami (Ohio) best bet is on both teams to go under the first-half total. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo Odds
| Miami (OH) Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 -105 | 40 -110o / -110u | -120 |
| Buffalo Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -115 | 40 -110o / -110u | +100 |
- Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo Spread: Miami (Ohio) -1.5, Buffalo +1.5
- Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo Over/Under: 40 Points
- Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo Moneyline: Miami (Ohio) -120, Buffalo +100
Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo Preview
Miami (Ohio) RedHawks Betting Preview: Leaning on Defense as Offense Resets
The circumstances surrounding Miami (Ohio) and its game last week against Toledo were bizarre to say the least.
The RedHawks are squarely in the thick of the MAC race, and just shortly before kickoff, it was announced that starting quarterback Dequan Finn would sit out due to an “illness.” After the game, it was announced that he had left the program to prepare for the NFL Draft.
This was shocking to many, as his team was competing for a conference championship. It left the RedHawks dependent on Henry Hesson to lead the offense, and as you might imagine, things did not go well.
Miami lost the game, 24-3, and the offense looked lost against Toledo’s defense while racking up only 222 total yards on 3.2 yards per play. The ground game was ineffective, and Miami never threatened, having just one trip inside the red zone.
Defensively, Miami played pretty well all things considered, but the RedHawks struggled to get off the field on third down and couldn’t stop the run, something they did effectively most of the way this season.
I would imagine the Miami defense looks sharp this week against Buffalo; it's going to have to be as the offense works out a game plan without its star quarterback.
Buffalo Bulls Betting Preview: Relying on Defense to Offset Turnover Issues
Buffalo has been one of the more frustrating case studies in all the Group of Five this season.
The Bulls have an exceptionally talented defense that has played really well at times and at other times has given up explosive plays and has been out of position.
We've seen a disappointing lack of effort against some of the bottom teams in the MAC, as the Bulls struggled to stop the EMU, Kent State and UMass offenses for long stretches.
The Bulls do stop the run well, and as long as they don’t get beat deep in pass coverage against Miami, I think they can hold up well and keep their team in this game.
The Buffalo offense has been plagued by frustrating turnovers and inept quarterback play most of the way in league play. Quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson has struggled in a Buffalo uniform, completing just 59% of his passes and throwing nine interceptions.
The offense has registered 12 fumbles, losing seven of them. Many of these careless turnovers came in critical situations of games the Bulls could have or should have won.
When we look back on this season for UB, we will see missed opportunities and frustration.
Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo Pick, Betting Analysis
This line has bounced around between Buffalo -1.5 and Miami -1.5, where it currently sits, with a total of 40. To try to avoid the high variance and unpredictability of this one, I'm going to isolate the first half under, which comes in at 19.5
Buffalo games have been highly variant in MAC play this season, and we often see wild swings, costly turnovers and other miscues that cost them. One thing we know it's going to do is run the football.
I expect a heavy dose of run action early in this game given how poorly the quarterback play was last week when Roberson was asked to drop back and throw.
Running back Al-Jay Henderson has been consistent for Buffalo this season, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. He's spelled by Lamar Sperling, another solid option at tailback.
Miami has a solid run defense that doesn't give up explosive plays, and Buffalo comes in at just 113th nationally in explosive play rate.
The Bulls require long, methodical drives in order to move the ball, and they've been terrible in third-and-short situations this season.
Miami will certainly be run-heavy in the first half of this one as it gets Hesson settled into the game flow. The RedHawks are a rush-heavy team, but there's very little explosiveness out of the run game.
Buffalo defends the run well and ranks 11th nationally in preventing explosive plays on the ground. I wouldn't expect Miami to come out slinging the ball around after Hesson completed just 11-of-38 passes last week while throwing three interceptions.
We should see a quick-moving first half here with very little risk taken by either coaching staff.
Chuck Martin and Pete Lembo are two of the most conservative coaches in the country, so if either team has a fourth-and-short situation, we should see field-goal attempts or punts in the first half.
We might see this game open up a bit in the second half with this being a must-win for both sides, but I believe the first half will be called conservatively with an emphasis on the run. I'm diving in on the first-half under.
Pick: 1H Under 19.5
Miami (Ohio) vs Buffalo Betting Trends
