Buffalo vs Liberty Game Matchup

Saturday, January 4th 2025 (11:00 AM EST)
Buffalo -4.5 (50.5) (-192) Open: -2.5 | 51.5
Buffalo 26 - Liberty: 7 (Bahamas Bowl Presented by Atlantis Resorts)

Bulls (9 - 4) (8 - 5 - 0)
Coach Pete Lembo (0 - 0)
Avg Score : 29 - 26 (20 - 34 on Road)
Record Prediction: 9 - 4 (#28)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Bowl Game Opt Outs
Our Line: Liberty -8.5 (SP+ LIB -4)
Projected Score: BUFF: 22 - LIB: 31 (54)
BUFF Win prob: 64% | Cover: 49%
BUFF Travel: 391 miles

Flames (8 - 4) (3 - 9 - 0)
Coach Jamey Chadwell (13 - 1)
Avg Score : 29 - 24 (32 - 22 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8 - 4 (#42)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
Bowls
BUFF Players
LIB Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Buffalo's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Thu 8/29	Buffalo vs Lafayette	-3.5	45.5	W 30 - 13	U	Y
Sat 9/7	Buffalo at Missouri	+34.5	53.5	L 0 - 38	U	N
Sat 9/14	Buffalo vs Massachusetts	-3.5	45.5	W 34 - 3	U	Y
Sat 9/21	Buffalo at Northern Illinois	+13.0	42.5	W 23 - 20	O	Y
Sat 9/28	Buffalo at UConn	+6.0	44.5	L 3 - 47	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/12	Buffalo vs Toledo	+10.5	44.5	W 30 - 15	O	Y
Sat 10/19	Buffalo vs Western Michigan	+1.0	49.5	L 41 - 48	O	N
Sat 10/26	Buffalo at Ohio	+4.0	46.5	L 16 - 47	O	N
Sat 11/2	Buffalo at Akron	+1.0	49.0	W 41 - 30	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Tue 11/12	Buffalo vs Ball State	-3.5	55.5	W 51 - 48	O	N
Wed 11/20	Buffalo at Eastern Michigan	+1.0	53.5	W 37 - 20	O	Y
Tue 11/26	Buffalo vs Kent State	-23.5	50.5	W 43 - 7	U	Y
Sat 1/4	Buffalo vs Liberty	-4.5	50.5	W 26 - 7	U	Y

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Buffalo's Schedule

Liberty's 2024 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Sat 8/31	Liberty vs Campbell	-41.5	58.5	W 41 - 24	O	N
Sat 9/7	Liberty at New Mexico State	-22.5	54.5	W 30 - 24	U	N
Sat 9/14	Liberty vs UTEP	-23.5	57.5	W 28 - 10	U	N
Sat 9/21	Liberty vs East Carolina	-7.5	55.0	W 35 - 24	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Tue 10/8	Liberty vs Florida International	-15.5	56.0	W 31 - 24	U	N
	BYE WEEK
Wed 10/23	Liberty at Kennesaw State	-27.0	48.0	L 24 - 27	O	N
Wed 10/30	Liberty vs Jacksonville State	-2.5	64.0	L 21 - 31	U	N
Sat 11/9	Liberty at Middle Tennessee	-12.5	54.5	W 37 - 17	U	Y
Sat 11/16	Liberty at Massachusetts	-17.0	53.0	W 35 - 34	O	N
Sat 11/23	Liberty vs Western Kentucky	-1.0	56.5	W 38 - 21	O	Y
Fri 11/29	Liberty at Sam Houston	-2.5	47.5	L 18 - 20	U	N
Sat 1/4	Liberty vs Buffalo	+4.5	50.5	L 7 - 26	U	N

Important Stats (2023)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
BUFF	#130 (.03)	37% (116)	28.8	43% (67)	2.93 (102)	134	32% (129)	185	3.54 (95)	#41 (.14)	39% (33)	26.4	37% (25)	42% (68)	3.55 (48)	41.6	1.6	1.6
LIB	#3 (.43)	54% (3)	28.8	56% (3)	3.77 (2)	281	51% (8)	197	4.54 (20)	#59 (.17)	42% (73)	23.5	47% (111)	40% (49)	3.63 (54)	59	1.1	1.7

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
BUFF		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
LIB		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2023

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
BUFF Offense	12	28.8	20	37.4%	3.54	1.6	17	319	134	185	3.7	51%	48%	43%	32%	16%	.03
LIB Defense	14	23.5	22.3	42.3%	3.63	1.7	-	-	-	-	-	43%	55%	47%	40%	18%	.17

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
BUFF Defense	12	26.4	33.7	38.7%	3.55	1.6	-	-	-	-	-	56%	43%	37%	42%	18%	.14
LIB Offense	14	28.8	32.3	54.2%	4.54	1.1	24	478	281	197	6.1	68%	32%	56%	51%	7%	.43

Additional Stats 2023

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Buffalo	12	30:32	17.2	34%	37%	4.8	41.6	1.6	1.6	5.7	1.4	2	29.4
Liberty	14	31:18	23.6	50%	55%	5.9	59	1.1	1.7	4.9	1.7	2	30.4

Run Game Stats (2024)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
BUFF Offense	12	51% (61)	43% (67)	36.3	133.6	3.7	15 (100)	.09 (102)	2.93 (102)	65% (119)	9% (40)	0.92 (103)
LIB Defense	14	43% (9)	47% (111)	-	-	-	-	.19 (94)	3.14 (77)	75% (86)	10% (84)	0.97 (49)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
BUFF Defense	12	56% (119)	37% (25)	-	-	-	-	.15 (76)	2.82 (24)	65% (25)	12% (19)	1.25 (131)
LIB Offense	14	68% (4)	56% (3)	45.9	281.3	6.1	39 (2)	.35 (3)	3.77 (2)	85% (4)	5% (1)	0.98 (81)

Pass Game Stats (2024)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
BUFF Offense	12	48% (77)	32% (129)	17.7	32.8	185.3	5.6	10.5	14 (106)	11 (68)	.04 (130)	1.5 (99)	32% (68)	26% (108)	.16 (116)	8% (119)	1.9 (109)
LIB Defense	14	55% (125)	40% (49)	-	-	-	-	-	-	21 (1)	.23 (48)	1.6 (84)	31% (77)	29% (48)	.17 (9)	9% (6)	2.1 (94)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
BUFF Defense	12	43% (13)	42% (68)	-	-	-	-	-	-	11 (53)	.2 (29)	1.4 (18)	35% (32)	28% (39)	.23 (30)	5% (95)	2 (54)
LIB Offense	14	32% (130)	51% (8)	11.6	19.9	196.9	9.9	16.9	31 (14)	5 (6)	.65 (2)	1.9 (9)	23% (2)	38% (13)	.59 (8)	2% (2)	2.3 (18)

Buffalo's Power Ratings
Buffalo's Power Rating: -12.53 #106
Buffalo's Offense Rating: 15.34 #104
Buffalo's Defense Rating: 12.34 #93
2024 Talent Rating: 384.00 #120
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #102
Buffalo's 2024 Expected Record: 9.0 - 4.0
Buffalo's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: -4.0 #87
Buffalo's Offense SP+ Rating: 25.4 #84
Buffalo's Defense SP+ Rating: 30.2 #93

Average Talent
Average Mid-American Talent Rating is 514.62
Average Power Five Talent: 806.09
Average FBS Talent: 638.99

Power Ratings Matchup
Buffalo: -12.53 Liberty: 0.39

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Buffalo: -4.0 Liberty: 0.2

Liberty's Power Ratings
Liberty's Power Rating: 0.39 #60
Liberty's Offense Rating: 25.37 #17
Liberty's Defense Rating: 6.21 #38
2024 Talent Rating: 550.00 #84
Blue Chip Ratio: 2 #82
Liberty's 2024 Expected Record: 8.0 - 4.0
Liberty's 2024 Overall SP+ Rating: 0.2 #71
Liberty's Offense SP+ Rating: 28.2 #60
Liberty's Defense SP+ Rating: 26.6 #70

Average Talent
Average Conference USA Talent Rating is 378
Average Power Five Talent: 806.09
Average FBS Talent: 638.99

Buffalo Scoring
Offense: 28.8 PPG
Offense on Road: 20
Defense: 26.4 PPG
Defense on Road: 33.7

Buffalo's 2024 Record
Record: 9 - 4
Record vs Spread: 8 - 5 - 0
Record on Road: 4 - 3
Record vs Spread on Road: 3 - 3 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 3 - 1 - 0
Record as Road Fav vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0

Projected Score
Liberty 31
Buffalo 22

Projected Total Points: 54

Liberty Scoring
Offense: 28.8 PPG
Offense at Home: 32.3
Defense: 23.5 PPG
Defense at Home: 22.3

Liberty's 2024 Record
Record: 8 - 4
Record vs Spread: 3 - 9 - 0
Record at home: 5 - 1
Record vs Spread at home: 2 - 4 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 0 - 1 - 0
Record as Home Dog vs Spread: 0 - 0 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Winner	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2024	01/04	Liberty	7	Buffalo	26	Buffalo	Buffalo -4.5	Buffalo	50.5	Under
2023	09/16	Buffalo	27	Liberty	55	Liberty	Liberty -2.5	Liberty	54.0	Over
2019	09/14	Liberty	35	Buffalo	17	Liberty	Buffalo -6	Liberty	55.0	Under

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Liberty	2	2	1 Overs
Buffalo	1	1	2 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	1 - 2	1 - 2	0 - 0	1 - 2
Road Teams	2 - 1	2 - 1	2 - 1	0 - 0

Buffalo Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2024	Bahamas Bowl	Buffalo vs Liberty	-4.5	50.5	W 26 - 7
2022	Camellia Bowl	Buffalo vs Georgia Southern	+6.0	67.0	W 23 - 21
2020	Camellia Bowl	Buffalo vs Marshall	-5.5	53.5	W 17 - 10
2019	Bahamas Bowl	Buffalo vs Charlotte	-7.0	52.0	W 31 - 9
2018	General Bowl	Buffalo vs Troy	-2.0	50.5	L 32 - 42

Liberty Recent Bowl History
Date	Bowl	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result
2024	Bahamas Bowl	Liberty vs Buffalo	+4.5	50.5	L 7 - 26
2023	Fiesta Bowl	Liberty vs Oregon	+18.5	71.5	L 6 - 45
2022	Raton Bowl	Liberty vs Toledo	+4.0	51.5	L 19 - 21
2021	Lendingtree Bowl	Liberty vs Eastern Michigan	-9.5	58.5	W 56 - 20
2020	Cure Bowl	Liberty vs Coastal Carolina	+6.5	60.0	W 37 - 34
2019	Cure Bowl	Liberty vs Georgia Southern	+5.0	59.0	W 23 - 16

(#106) Buffalo Info

Preseason ratings
Power Rating: -12.53 #106
Offense Rating: 15.34 #104
Defense Rating: 12.34 #93
Overall SP+ Rating: -4.0 #87
Offense SP+ Rating: 25.4 #84
Defense SP+ Rating: 30.2 #93
Talent Rating: 384.00 #120
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #102
Expected Record: 9.0 - 4.0

Team Profile
Run heavy Offense 55%, Pass: 45%
Poor Offense Success Rate of 40%
Bad Offensive Explosiveness
Good in Scoring Position 4.22 PPO
Awful Run Success 38%
Bad Pass Success 42%
Bad OL Grades, Awful OL Yds Per Rush
Good DL Grades, Good Sacks/Turnovers
Bad Defense Success Rate of 43%
Bad in Scoring Position 3.84 PPO
Bad Run Def Success 43%
Poor Pass Def Success 43%
Good Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Good Field Position

Buffalo has played in 4 Bowls in the last 5 years (4 - 0)
Buffalo has played in 7 Bowls since 2000 (4 - 3)

Buffalo Notes
(11/27) Killed Kent, Rgame great, Ogbonna good
(11/25) 3 str W's, beat EMU. Alive, barely, for MAC title
(11/13) Def torched, Off & QB Semonza great in Buf L
(10/20) Def torched by WMU. Off great but bad start
(10/18) DL is really undersized but linebackers very good
(10/13) Rgame 230+ yds, Run Def great in upset W (Tol)
(10/11) This may be worst Off in CFB. #133 Success
(10/4) OG'd 537-198 (UConn), Rgame awful/QBs worse
(9/23) Beat N Ill despite outgained 2-1. Off awful
(9/13) QB Ogbonna has not shown he can throw at all

Buffalo Ratings Matchup Liberty

Power #106

#60

Off #104

#17

Def #93

#38

Talent #120

#84

SP+ #87

#71

SP+ Off #84

#60

SP+ Def #93

#70

Rematch from Week 1
Buffalo 4.5 (50.5)
Buffalo won at Liberty this year (26-7)

Previous Matchups
Buffalo beat Liberty last year (26-7)
Liberty beat Buffalo in 2023 (55-27)

Weather Forecast
Playing in Thomas Robinson Stadium
Conditions: Fair
Temp: 72° - Wind: 12 mph

Team Information
Injuries: BUFF | LIB
Depth Chart: BUFF | LIB
Rosters: BUFF | LIB

(#60) Liberty Info

Preseason ratings
Power Rating: 0.39 #60
Offense Rating: 25.37 #17
Defense Rating: 6.21 #38
Overall SP+ Rating: 0.2 #71
Offense SP+ Rating: 28.2 #60
Defense SP+ Rating: 26.6 #70
Talent Rating: 550.00 #84
Blue Chip Ratio: 2 #82
Expected Record: 8.0 - 4.0

Team Profile
Very Run heavy Offense 63%, Pass: 36%
Great Offense Success Rate of 50%
Good Offensive Explosiveness
Good in Scoring Position 4.21 PPO
Great Run Success 54%
Avg Pass Success 43%
Avg OL Grades, Great OL Yds Per Rush
Avg DL Grades, Avg Sacks/Turnovers
Good Defense Success Rate of 39%
Avg in Scoring Position 3.68 PPO
Good Run Def Success 39%
Avg Pass Def Success 40%
Bad Pressure/Havoc/Forcing TOs
Bad Field Position

Liberty has played in 6 Bowls in the last 5 years (3 - 3)
Liberty has played in 6 Bowls since 2000 (3 - 3)

Liberty Notes
(11/18) All. 263 (5.6 ypc) to UMass. Rgame good, Salter not
(10/30) All. 363 yds rush, 7.4 ypc vs Jax St in 2nd L
(10/23) Awful L to Ken St, Off awful outside of Salter
(10/8) Escape FIU, Rgame good, Salter avg, Pass D bad
(10/4) GOY vs App canceled. Play 1 game in entire month
(9/23) Great comeback W (ECU), Rgame good, 13-17 3rd
(9/20) WR is an issue, drops, inconsistent. Off step back
(9/8) Dogfight/Comeback W @ NMSU? 1-11 on 3rd down
(8/3) Roster/Talent vs who they play is a joke.
(7/30) 2nd Easiest sched, fav'd in all, need 13-0 for CFP

Buffalo's OC Dave Patenaude

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
CJ Ogbonna	190	336	57%	2381	19	5	7.1
Gunnar Gray	4	11	36%	41	0	1	3.7

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Al-Jay Henderson	204	1078	9	5.3	68
CJ Ogbonna	122	346	8	2.8	26
Messiah Burch	29	153	2	5.3	31
Lamar Sperling	39	150	1	3.8	22

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Victor Snow	55	651	6	11.8	46
JJ Jenkins (Tr)	36	536	4	14.9	90
Al-Jay Henderson	19	238	1	12.5	75
Taji Johnson (Tr)	19	215	2	11.3	34

View Buffalo's Full Roster

Buffalo's DC Joe Bowen

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Khalil Murdock	156	17	2	4	1
Solomon Brown	66	2	0	0	6
Dion Crawford	58	15	9	4	2
Marquis Cooper	55	3	0	1	8

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Kobe Stewart (Tr)	40	12	10	3	2
Dion Crawford	58	15	9	4	2
Antonio Colclough (Tr)	14	4	3	4	1
Khalil Murdock	156	17	2	4	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	PRESS	PD
Marquis Cooper	55	3	1	8
Solomon Brown	66	2	0	6
Eddie Pleasant III (Tr)	11	0	0	5

Liberty's OC Newland Isaac

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Kaidon Salter	147	261	56%	1886	15	6	7.2
Ryan Burger (Tr)	8	19	42%	88	0	0	4.6

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Kaidon Salter	114	587	7	5.1	41
Vaughn Blue	35	207	1	5.9	45
Ryan Burger (Tr)	17	70	1	4.1	57
Julian Gray (Tr)	10	62	1	6.2	41

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Elijah Canion (Tr)	25	354	3	14.2	50
Reese Smith	18	277	4	15.4	44
Tyson Mobley (Tr)	29	276	1	9.5	25
Donte Lee Jr	10	148	1	14.8	24

View Liberty's Full Roster

Liberty's DC Jack Curtis

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Joseph Carter	88	5	2	0	3
T.J. Bush	58	10	6	1	4
CJ Bazile Jr.	54	5	2	2	0
A'Khori Jones	53	5	0	0	3

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
T.J. Bush	58	10	6	1	4
CJ Bazile Jr.	54	5	2	2	0
Joseph Carter	88	5	2	0	3
Eliyt Nairne	25	2	1	1	0

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
T.J. Bush	58	10	6	1	4
Joseph Carter	88	5	2	0	3
A'Khori Jones	53	5	0	0	3