Buffalo at Kent State Week 6 College Football Matchup Buffalo at Kent State Matchup - Week 6
Sat, Oct 9 2021 · Week 6 · 🏟 Dix Stadium Kent, OH · Turf · 25,000 cap
Buffalo✈ 182 miSame TZ
Away
38 48
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Buffalo
30
Kent State
36
P&R Line Kent State -5.5
P&R Total O/U 66
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Kent State -7 · O/U 66.0
Matchup Prediction
Buffalo has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Buffalo entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Buffalo wins
Lean
Game Control
58.3%
Buffalo wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Kent State -7
O/U 66.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Kent State · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Kent State 2nd straight Home Game
Buffalo 2021 Schedule
Buffalo's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 9/2Buffalo vs Wagner-44.0W69–754.5W69–7OY
Sat 9/11Buffalo at Nebraska+13.5L3–2854.0L3–28UN
Sat 9/18Buffalo vs Coastal Carolina+14.0L25–2858.0L25–28UY
Sat 9/25Buffalo at Old Dominion-13.0W35–3450.5W35–34ON
Sat 10/2Buffalo vs Western Michigan+7.0L17–2459.5L17–24UY
Sat 10/9Buffalo at Kent State+7.0L38–4866.0L38–48ON
Sat 10/16Buffalo vs Ohio-7.5W27–2654.5W27–26UN
Sat 10/23Buffalo at Akron-13.5W45–1058.5W45–10UY
Sat 10/30Buffalo vs Bowling Green-13.5L44–5651.5L44–56ON
— Bye Week —
Tue 11/9Buffalo at Miami (OH)+7.0L18–4558.0L18–45ON
Wed 11/17Buffalo vs Northern Illinois+2.0L27–3359.5L27–33ON
Tue 11/23Buffalo at Ball State+6.0L3–2059.5L3–20UN
Kent State 2021 Schedule
Kent State's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Kent State at Texas A&M+29.5L10–4167.0L10–41UN
Sat 9/11Kent State vs VMI-19.0W60–1073.0W60–10UY
Sat 9/18Kent State at Iowa+22.0L7–3055.5L7–30UN
Sat 9/25Kent State at Maryland+13.0L16–3771.5L16–37UN
Sat 10/2Kent State vs Bowling Green-16.5W27–2056.0W27–20UN
Sat 10/9Kent State vs Buffalo-7.0W48–3866.0W48–38OY
Sat 10/16Kent State at Western Michigan+7.0L31–6468.5L31–64ON
Sat 10/23Kent State at Ohio-5.0W34–2768.5W34–27UY
— Bye Week —
Wed 11/3Kent State vs Northern Illinois-3.5W52–4772.0W52–47OY
Wed 11/10Kent State at Central Michigan+2.5L30–5476.5L30–54ON
Sat 11/20Kent State at Akron-13.5W38–072.5W38–0UY
Sat 11/27Kent State vs Miami (OH)+1.0W48–4768.0W48–47OY
Sat 12/4Kent State vs Northern Illinois-3.5L23–4175.5L23–41UN
Tue 12/21Kent State vs Wyoming+3.0L38–5261.0L38–52ON
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Kent State PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Kent State
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Buffalo
+0.480
Kent State
+0.610
Kent State Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Buffalo
+0.621
Kent State
+0.632
Kent State Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Buffalo
0.189
Kent State
0.153
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Buffalo Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Buffalo
+8.255
Kent State
+7.267
Buffalo Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Buffalo
+0.918
Kent State
+0.942
Kent State Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Buffalo
74.0
Kent State
70.6
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Kent State Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Buffalo Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Buffalo
-10.8
Kent State
-16.7
Offense Rating
Buffalo
7.6
Kent State
7.5
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Buffalo
18.3
Kent State
24.2
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Buffalo Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Buffalo #69
0.75
Kent State #61
0.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Buffalo #42
0.75
Kent State #106
0.75
Buffalo +0.75
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 4 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Buffalo Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Buffalo #1
44.3
Kent State #1
35.8
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Buffalo #102
44.7
Kent State #80
58.2
Buffalo +8.6
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.3% of games historically
Based on 5 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Tie
2 — 2 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
Kent State
83.0 — 7.1 GC score
✗ Predicted incorrectly
Game Result
Kent State won by 10
✗ Model missed it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Buffalo. Teams with this edge profile have covered 50.3% historically — essentially a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Buffalo
Maurice Linguist #1
1–2 (33%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Shane Montgomery Yr 1 #1
DC Joe Cauthen Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Kent State
Sean Lewis #1
13–19 (41%) · Yr 4 at school
OC Andrew Sowder Yr 1 #1
DC Tom Kaufman Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself