Preview: Buffalo (1-1) at U-C-F (1-1)
Posted September 16, 2009
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FACTS & STATS: Site: Bright House Networks Stadium (45,323) -- Orlando, Florida. Television: Local. Home Record: Buffalo 0-1, UCF 1-0. Away Record: Buffalo 1-0, UCF 0-1. Neutral Record: Buffalo 0-0, UCF 0-0. Conference Record: Buffalo 0-0, UCF 0-1. Series Record: UCF leads, 5-1
GAME NOTES: Buffalo will travel to Orlando this weekend, as the Bulls take on the UCF Knights at Bright House Networks Stadium.
Buffalo opened the season with a hard-fought, 23-17 victory over Texas-El Paso, but last week the team did not enjoy the same success, suffering a punishing, 54-27 setback to Pittsburgh. The Bulls will remain on the road next week when they open their Mid-American schedule against Temple.
As for the Knights, they began the year with a 28-24 decision over Samford. However, the team suffered its first loss with a 26-19 setback to Southern Mississippi this past weekend. After this Saturday the Knights will return to Conference-USA action when they battle the East Carolina Pirates on the road.
With respect to the all-time series between the two schools, the Knights hold a 5-1 edge over Buffalo, but the lone win for the Bulls came in the last meeting between the two schools in 2004.
The Bulls racked up 500 yards on Saturday against Pittsburgh, but surprisingly it was not nearly enough in a 27 point loss. The majority of the team's success came through the air, as Zach Maynard threw for 400 yards and four touchdowns. The signal caller however, was intercepted once and sacked three times. In his first year as the starter, Maynard has excelled, completing 66.7 percent of his throws for 559 yards and five touchdowns. Brett Hamlin and Naaman Roosevelt were the two main targets in the loss, as Hamlin grabbed 12 passes for 149 yards, while Roosevelt collected six passes for 157 yards and two TDs. The two wideouts have been outstanding in both matchups and have combined for 26 receptions, 413 yards and three scores. Unfortunately the ground game has not enjoyed similar success, averaging just 108.5 yards per games on just 3.0 yards per attempt. Brandon Thermilus is currently pacing the team with 128 yards on 3.3 ypc, but he is coming off a poor showing against Pitt, rushing for just 49 yards.
The Bulls only surrendered 381 total yards in the loss to Pittsburgh, but allowed a whopping 54 points. The Bulls had no answers for Pittsburgh's ground attack, as the defensive unit for Buffalo was punished for 209 yards and four scores on 7.5 yards per attempt. Stopping the run has been a major issue for the Bulls in the early stages of the season, as the team is being abused for 174.0 yards per game. Buffalo was unable to make many big plays in the loss to Pitt as the team did not record a turnover or sack and allowed the Panthers to convert on all five of their red zone chances. Mike Newton led the way in the loss with 11 tackles in the loss, and now has a team-high 17 stops on the year.
The Knights are averaging a respectable 23.5 ppg on the year, but the offense has not done much with the football, averaging a mere 238 total yards per matchup. UCF was held to just 194 total yards in the setback to Southern Miss, and the ground game was stuffed for only 15 yards on 27 carries. Two games into the season and it is apparent the Knights will have trouble on the ground, producing just 70.0 yards per matchup. The passing attack was slightly better as Brett Hodges threw for 158 yards and two scores on 15-of-26 passing against USM. Rocky Ross was on the receiving end of one of those touchdowns and finished the game with five receptions and 56 yards. Hodges has been decent completing 58.1 percent of his throws for 287 yards and three touchdowns. Ross is Hodges' main target, as the wideout is leading the team with 10 receptions and 141 yards.
The defense for UCF has not been dismantled, but the performance over the first two weeks has left a lot to be desired, as the team is allowing 25.0 ppg, on 335.0 total yards per outing. One area where the Knights have excelled is against the run, holding the opposition to just 104.5 yards per game on 2.9 yards per carry. UCF did surrender 131 rushing yards in the loss to Southern Mississippi, but what hurt the Knights in the contest was their inability to stop the pass, as the Golden Eagles allowed 253 yards through the air. The Knights did force a turnover in the matchup and also recorded three sacks, but allowed Southern Miss to convert on 7-of-16 third down chances and 4-of-5 red zone opportunities. Lawrence Young has proved to be valuable for this unit, as the linebacker is leading the team with 16 tackles and five TFLs.
One of the Knights' problems to date has been their inability to stop the pass, and since the Bulls rely heavily on their passing attack this could end up badly for UCF.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Buffalo 38, UCF 27
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