Buffalo at Kent State Week 8 College Football Matchup Buffalo at Kent State Matchup - Week 8
Sat, Oct 21 2023 · Week 8 · 🏟 Dix Stadium Kent, OH · Turf · 25,000 cap
Buffalo✈ 182 miSame TZ
Away
24 6
Final
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📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Buffalo
27
Kent State
19
P&R Line Buffalo -8.5
P&R Total O/U 45.5
Confidence 90 High
Vegas Buffalo -6.5 · O/U 44.0
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
49.4%
Buffalo wins
Toss-up
Vegas Spread
Buffalo -6.5
O/U 44.0
William Hill (New Jersey)
Advanced Stats
All 4 factors agree → Buffalo · 83.1% ATS historically when all four align
↓ 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
Kent State 2023 Schedule
Kent State's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Thu 8/31Kent State at UCF+35.0L6–5654.0L6–56ON
Sat 9/9Kent State at Arkansas+38.0L6–2857.5L6–28UY
Sat 9/16Kent State vs Central Connecticut-21.5W38–1046.5W38–10OY
Sat 9/23Kent State at Fresno State+27.5L10–5347.5L10–53ON
Sat 9/30Kent State vs Miami (OH)+14.0L3–2351.5L3–23UN
Sat 10/7Kent State at Ohio+24.5L17–4245.5L17–42ON
Sat 10/14Kent State at Eastern Michigan+7.0L14–2840.0L14–28ON
Sat 10/21Kent State vs Buffalo+6.5L6–2444.0L6–24UN
— Bye Week —
Wed 11/1Kent State at Akron+4.0L27–3139.0L27–31OY
Wed 11/8Kent State vs Bowling Green+10.5L19–4941.5L19–49ON
Sat 11/18Kent State at Ball State+10.5L3–3441.5L3–34UN
Sat 11/25Kent State vs Northern Illinois+20.5L27–3744.5L27–37OY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
Buffalo PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
All 4 Agree
→ Buffalo
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
3 Agree
→ Buffalo
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Buffalo
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Buffalo #130
+0.347
Kent State #125
+0.196
Buffalo Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Buffalo #130
+0.480
Kent State #110
+0.356
Buffalo Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Buffalo #39
0.176
Kent State #122
0.128
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Buffalo Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Buffalo #95
+8.416
Kent State #110
+6.821
Buffalo Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Buffalo #116
+0.824
Kent State #130
+0.739
Buffalo Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Buffalo #65
70.6
Kent State #99
71.6
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Buffalo 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
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 #109
0.67
Kent State #119
0.17
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Buffalo #82
1.17
Kent State #126
2.33
Buffalo +0.50
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 6 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
27.0
Kent State #1
23.4
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Buffalo #121
55.8
Kent State #129
64.4
Buffalo +3.6
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 49.4% of games historically
Based on 7 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Tie
1 — 1 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
Buffalo
10.6 — 71.5 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Buffalo won by 18
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Buffalo, but the GC edge is small. When metrics agree but GC is near-neutral, the agreed-upon team has covered only 46.7% of the time historically (n=224) — potentially a fade signal.

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
Kent State
Kenni Burns #1
1–2 (33%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Matt Johnson Yr 1 #1
DC David Duggan 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: CSS is not a predictive 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: GS is not a predictive 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