Buffalo at Louisiana Week 4 College Football Matchup Buffalo at Louisiana Matchup - Week 4
Sat, Sep 23 2023 · Week 4 · 🏟 Cajun Field Lafayette, LA · Turf · 36,900 cap
Buffalo✈ 1,146 mi-1 hr TZ
Away
38 45
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Buffalo
21
Louisiana
35
P&R Line Louisiana -13.5
P&R Total O/U 56
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Louisiana -10.5 · O/U 57.5
Matchup Prediction
Louisiana has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Louisiana entering this game.
Momentum Control
71.6%
Louisiana wins
Solid
Game Control
76%
Louisiana wins
Strong
Vegas Spread
Louisiana -10.5
O/U 57.5
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Louisiana · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
Buffalo 2023 Schedule
Buffalo's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Buffalo at Wisconsin+29.0L17–3852.5L17–38OY
Sat 9/9Buffalo vs Fordham-23.5L37–4055.5L37–40ON
Sat 9/16Buffalo vs Liberty+2.5L27–5554.0L27–55ON
Sat 9/23Buffalo at Louisiana+10.5L38–4557.5L38–45OY
Sat 9/30Buffalo at Akron+3.0W13–1053.0W13–10UY
Sat 10/7Buffalo vs Central Michigan+2.5W37–1351.5W37–13UY
Sat 10/14Buffalo vs Bowling Green-3.0L14–2444.5L14–24UN
Sat 10/21Buffalo at Kent State-6.5W24–644.0W24–6UY
— Bye Week —
Tue 10/31Buffalo at Toledo+14.0L13–3147.0L13–31UN
Tue 11/7Buffalo vs Ohio+9.5L10–2045.5L10–20UN
Wed 11/15Buffalo at Miami (OH)+7.5L10–2336.5L10–23UN
Tue 11/21Buffalo vs Eastern Michigan-6.5L11–2438.5L11–24UN
Louisiana 2023 Schedule
Louisiana's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Louisiana vs Northwestern State-35.0W38–1354.5W38–13UN
Sat 9/9Louisiana at Old Dominion-6.0L31–3851.0L31–38ON
Sat 9/16Louisiana at UAB+2.0W41–2160.0W41–21OY
Sat 9/23Louisiana vs Buffalo-10.5W45–3857.5W45–38ON
Sat 9/30Louisiana at Minnesota+9.5L24–3549.0L24–35ON
Sat 10/7Louisiana vs Texas State-1.0W34–3067.5W34–30UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/21Louisiana vs Georgia State-3.0L17–2062.0L17–20UN
Sat 10/28Louisiana at South Alabama+11.5W33–2055.0W33–20UY
Sat 11/4Louisiana at Arkansas State-9.0L17–3760.0L17–37UN
Thu 11/9Louisiana vs Southern Miss-8.5L31–3451.5L31–34ON
Sat 11/18Louisiana at Troy+17.5L24–3147.5L24–31OY
Sat 11/25Louisiana vs UL Monroe-12.5W52–2153.0W52–21OY
Sat 12/16Louisiana vs Jacksonville State+3.5L31–3458.5L31–34OY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
Louisiana 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
→ Louisiana
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Buffalo #130
+0.216
Louisiana #48
+0.367
Louisiana Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Buffalo #130
+0.301
Louisiana #49
+0.534
Louisiana Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Buffalo #39
0.176
Louisiana #84
0.156
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Buffalo Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Buffalo #95
+7.917
Louisiana #42
+7.710
Buffalo Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Buffalo #116
+0.824
Louisiana #35
+0.839
Louisiana Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Buffalo #65
70.6
Louisiana #44
69.7
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Louisiana Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Louisiana Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Buffalo
-10.8
Louisiana
-3.7
Offense Rating
Buffalo
7.6
Louisiana
17.6
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Buffalo
18.3
Louisiana
21.2
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Louisiana Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Buffalo #109
0.50
Louisiana #75
2.00
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Buffalo #82
2.50
Louisiana #26
1.50
Louisiana +1.50
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 71.6% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Louisiana Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Buffalo #1
20.7
Louisiana #1
58.3
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Buffalo #121
67.3
Louisiana #39
22.8
Louisiana +37.6
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 76% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Louisiana with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

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

Coaching Matchup
Buffalo
Maurice Linguist #1
11–17 (39%) · Yr 3 at school
OC DJ Mangas Yr 1 #1
DC Robert Wright Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Louisiana
Michael Desormeaux #1
9–8 (53%) · Yr 2 at school
OC Tim Leger Yr 2 #1
DC LaMar Morgan Yr 2 #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