Tag: Buffalo Bulls

Buffalo has played ‘Jump Around’ all week at practice: “We’re going to try to make it our song”

If bulletin board material is possible for a Week 1 out-of-conference, here it is:

The Wisconsin Badgers and Buffalo Bulls are set to open their 2023 football seasons on Saturday. Buffalo will enter Camp Randall after a 7-6 2022 campaign in the MAC, and as SP+’s No. 97 team in the nation.

Buffalo head coach Maurice Linguist knows a thing or two about football in the Big Ten, as he coached defensive backs at Minnesota in 2017. While he’s gone up against the Badgers once (a 31-0 loss), he’s never made the trip to Madison to play them on the road.

Jonathan Acosta of WGRZ in Buffalo noted earlier this week Linguist and his staff are installing an interesting tactic ahead of the trip to Madison this weekend: playing House of Pain’s ‘Jump Around’ all day at practice.

“Pay a visit to the University at Buffalo football practice this week, and you’re likely to hear one song in particular played over and over,” Acosta writes. “That song would be ‘Jump Around’ by House of Pain, a song that’s blasted over the speakers at Camp Randall and is a tradition at Wisconsin Badgers football games.”

Related:

*Predicting every Big Ten team’s 2023 wins and losses, final record and the conference champ

*Final Wisconsin football 2023 game-by-game predictions

*Five takeaways from Wisconsin’s Week 1 depth chart

Buffalo defensive leader safety Marcus Fuqua was asked whether he and the team have grown tired of the song. To which he responded: “Nah, you can’t…I like the song, it’s cool as fun.”

Jump Around will be played for the first time this year entering the fourth quarter on Saturday, as it normally is. The biggest question here is whether a competitive football game is still being played on the field below, or if backups are in to go through the motions until the clock hits zero. At that point, it’s worth wondering if the song is still ‘fun.’

Acosta notes the senior safety later added “That’s their song. We’re going to try to make it our song.”

I don’t know if true bulletin board material is possible entering a Week 1 out-of-conference game with a point spread nearing 30. But if it is, this headline serves it up on a platter.

Everything you need to know about the 2023 Buffalo Bulls

Preview of Wisconsin’s Week 1 Opponent

Wisconsin begins its 2023 campaign this Saturday as the Buffalo Bulls visit Madison for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.

SP+ has the Bulls as the nation’s No. 97 team (No. 85 offense, No. 111 defense). There is not a better matchup for Luke Fickell and his new staff to get things going on the right foot. After April’s Spring game saw a defensive-dominated day and several Tanner Mordecai interceptions, Wisconsin fans are starved for a glimpse at what the new offense under Phil Longo can achieve.

Related:

*Predicting every Big Ten team’s 2023 wins and losses, final record and the conference champ

*Final Wisconsin football 2023 game-by-game predictions

*Five takeaways from Wisconsin’s Week 1 depth chart

Well, Buffalo went 7-6 in the MAC last season and only have a returning production rate of 56%. The team is projected to be among the MAC’s best this season, but that isn’t saying much in the grand scheme of the sport.

Before we get to Saturday, here is everything you need to know about the 2023 Buffalo Bulls:

Wisconsin opens as a heavy betting favorite Week 1 vs Buffalo

Wisconsin will have an easy matchup to open Luke Fickell’s first season as head coach

Betting lines are starting to trickle out for the start of the 2023 college football season. In case you’re stuck in the lull of the offseason with months until games are played, these lines can be good initial market tests for how Vegas views Wisconsin and other Big Ten teams.

Circa Sports tweeted every Week 1 opening line earlier today. The service has the Badgers as 24-point favorites against the visiting Buffalo Bulls with an over/under of 54.5.

Buffalo is coming off a 7-6 season in the MAC that included a Camellia Bowl win against Georgia Southern, Wisconsin’s Week 3 opponent.

It’s nearly impossible to forecast what the Badgers will look like when the season starts. The defense should impress from the jump, but the new offense may face significant growing pains.

Related: Ranking the toughest games on Wisconsin’s 2023 schedule

Luckily for Luke Fickell and his staff, Buffalo will enter Madison as the 102nd-ranked overall team in ESPN’s SP+ and the No. 113 defense. It’s a perfect tune-up opportunity for the Wisconsin roster.

Penn State swaps out 2026 non-conference opponents

Penn State football will face MAC opponent in 2026 schedule change.

Penn State may be looking ahead to what it hopes will be a successful 2024 football season this fall, but the school is already making some changes to its 2026 schedule as well. On Thursday, an adjustment to the 2026 non-conference schedule was announced, although not by Penn State. The University of Buffalo stole the thunder by announcing it has added a 2026 road game at Penn State to its schedule.

According to a press release from Buffalo’s football program, the Bulls will visit the Nittany Lions on September 19, 2026. The 2026 meeting will be the fifth all-time meeting between the two schools with Penn State owning a 3-1 series advantage. Penn State’s only loss to Buffalo came in 1900.

The date of the Penn State-Buffalo game means Penn State will no longer play San Jose State, at least on that specific date. Penn State was originally scheduled to host San Jose State for a non-conference game in 2020. But when the Big Ten adopted an amended Big Ten-only scheduling policy during the COVID-19 stricken college football season, Penn State later rescheduled the game with San Jose State for September 19, 2026 in April 2021. Now, at least for the moment, the Spartans are once again placed on the shelf.

Penn State has not made any formal scheduling announcements of its own, so it is possible another rescheduled date is being arranged with San Jose State. But we will have to wait and see if that is the case when Penn State.

For the moment, Penn State’s non-conference schedule for 2026 includes home games against Marshall and Buffalo, and a road game at Temple. The Big Ten schedule for 2026 has not been announced yet.

Follow Kevin McGuire on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=10]

[mm-video type=video id=01gz20ws58y9xt93jqp8 playlist_id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gz20ws58y9xt93jqp8/01gz20ws58y9xt93jqp8-4801418def30435c4f262f650b7b3242.jpg]

Report: Jim Whitesell is out at Buffalo

Buffalo is joining the fray as they part ways with their head coach per Jon Rothstein.

This feels like Black Monday the day after the NFL’s regular season ends. There are plenty of changes being made across the collegiate landscape in men’s basketball. Buffalo has joined the coaching carousel according to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein.

Rothstein reports that the Buffalo Bulls have parted ways with Jim Whitesell. Whitesell has been the head coach since 2019 after being promoted from an associate head coach.

In four seasons with Buffalo, the long-time head coach was 70-49 and 45-27 in MAC play. This was the first season in his tenure where Whitesell didn’t finish with a winning record. Prior to joining Buffalo, he was an assistant with Saint Louis from 2011 to 2013 and St. John’s from 2013 to 2015.

This is another program that will have a new head coach in charge of a program when the 2023-24 season tips off in November. Already we have seen St. John’s, Georgetown, and Georgia Tech make moves with their head coaches in the last couple of days.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=59]

[mm-video type=video id=01gv659ce3mmrxaedsyr playlist_id=01gq2fszf7mxxc88k4 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gv659ce3mmrxaedsyr/01gv659ce3mmrxaedsyr-ae5a532bb376c4598d131c1990b76f98.jpg]

Back 4 MAC teams in Week 10: Mid-American Conference’s best bets

Analyzing Mid-American Conference betting odds and lines for Week 10, with picks and predictions for the best MAC bets to make.

We flip the calendar from October to November on Tuesday, and that means we’re in the stretch run toward the holidays, we’re rounding the corner of the college football regular season, and, in the Mid-American Conference (MAC), we get the now traditional Tuesday and Wednesday slate of games.

Below, we analyze Tipico Sportsbook‘s lines around the MAC’s Week 10 slate, and make our expert college football picks and predictions.

Check out: AFCA Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports

Stream select live college football games and full replays: Get ESPN+

MAC best bets for Week 10

– All games listed are ET unless noted

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Monday at 7:52 a.m. ET.

Ball State at Kent State OVER 61.5 (-112) – Tuesday, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

The Cardinals invade Dix Stadium for this Tuesday night affair, looking to bounce back after a disappointing 20-16 loss in Muncie against Eastern Michigan.

The Golden Flashes are looking to build on the momentum of a Wagon Wheel rivalry game win over Akron 33-27 last week, while trying to keep alive their flickering bowl hopes.

These teams haven’t met since Nov. 23, 2019, a 41-38 win by the Golden Flashes in Kent. Ball State has won 2 of the last 3 meetings, and it leads the all-time series 21-8.

Both teams have struggled on defense, as Ball State yields 28.1 PPG and has been gouged for 185.4 rushing yards per game, while Kent State has coughed up 32.1 PPG and has been pounded for 454.8 total yards per game. We should see quite a mid-week shootout in Northeast Ohio.

Claim your risk-free bet up to $350. Catch the excitement and start betting with Tipico Sportsbook! New customer offer in CO and NJ. 21+, see Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. Bet now!

Buffalo at Ohio (+125) – Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Bulls head to Peden Stadium in Athens with an unblemished record and 1st place in the standings of the East Division at 4-0. The Bobcats can take over the top spot by virtue of the head-to-head tiebreaker with a win. This will be a fun one in Southeast Ohio.

Buffalo edged Toledo last time out 34-27, winning and covering for the 5th consecutive outing. The Bulls have improved greatly after an 0-3 start, including a stunning setback against FCS Holy Cross back in mid-September.

Ohio has been doing a little winning and covering of its own lately, though, picking up 3 straight wins, and 4 consecutive covers. That includes a solid 24-17 win as a 3-point underdog against Northern Illinois last time out.

Buffalo won last season’s meeting 27-26, but Ohio grabbed the cover. The Bobcats have won 5 straight home meetings against the Bulls dating back to  2008, and on Tuesday it will keep the win streak alive in this high-stakes game in the East Division.

Central Michigan at Northern Illinois -3.5 (-120) – Wednesday, 7 p.m. (ESPNU)

Central Michigan was dumped 34-18 by Bowling Green at Kelly/Shorts Stadium last time out, and the Chippewas have dropped 4 of the last 5 games overall, while failing to cover in each of the previous 4 outings.

Northern Illinois showed some fight at Ohio last Saturday, falling 24-17 in Athens. After a slow start to the season, the NIU defense has shown some improvement and allowed just 34 total points in the last 2 games

Neither of these teams are very good, and the loser of this game will no longer have the chance to win out and become bowl eligible.

The edge here goes to NIU, since it is at home, and the Huskies can run the ball with authority, while also stop the run when on defense. The Chips are decent against the rush, so the Huskies won’t be able to run away with the game. But NIU is playing a little more consistently lately, and it will grab a late score and cover to keep its fleeting bowl hopes alive.

Play our free daily Pick’em Challenge and win! Play now!

Western Michigan at Bowling Green -3.5 (-105) – Wednesday, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)

The Falcons are flying high with back-to-back wins over Miami-Ohio and Central Michigan, and Bowling Green is very much still in contention for the East Division title.

The Broncos stopped a 2-game slide with a 16-10 win at Miami-Ohio, keeping its flickering bowl hopes alive. It enters this game just 2-4 SU/ATS in the last 6 games.

Western Michigan’s offense has been terrible, averaging just 305.5 yards per game to rank 119th out of 131 FBS teams.

Bowling Green also struggles on offense, but scored 34 in its win at Central Michigan last time out, its high in any conference game this season. BGSU has also covered in consecutive games after opening 1-4-1 ATS in the 1st 6 outings.

This is a lot of points to lay for the Falcons, especially since they haven’t topped the Broncos at Doyt Perry Stadium since 2004. But this is a new day and age of Falcons football, and they get it done in front of the home faithful to keep their division and bowl hopes alive.

Want some action on these or any other NCAA football games? Bet legally online with a trusted partner: Tipico Sportsbook, SportsbookWire’s official sportsbook partner in CO and NJ. Bet now!

If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, access all of our content at SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW, or try out our USA TODAY Parlay Calculator. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

College sports coverage from USA TODAY Sports Media Group:

Alabama / Arkansas / Auburn / Clemson / Colorado / Florida / Georgia / Iowa / LSU / Michigan / Michigan State / Nebraska / North Carolina / Notre Dame / Ohio State / Oklahoma / Oregon / Penn State / Rutgers / Tennessee / Texas / Texas A&M / USC / Wisconsin / College Football News

[lawrence-newsletter]

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1622]

Amazon Prime Day NFL Deals: One gift for fans of each NFL team

The holidays have come early for NFL fans thanks to Amazon Prime’s Early Access Sale.

While Prime Day has come and gone for 2022, Amazon is giving Prime members another reason to be thankful this holiday season.

Amazon Prime Early Access Sale is a two-day event exclusive to Prime subscribers, who can start their holiday shopping with thousands of exclusive discounts.

We know just how challenging it can be to shop for the NFL fan in your life, so we put together a list to ensure no fan gets forgotten this year.

Looking for some team apparel? Got it. Big tailgater? No problem. Want a Halloween costume that shows your fandom? We got you covered.

If you see something you like, but it’s featured in your rival’s colors, don’t worry. Almost all of the items below can be found sporting the colors of your favorite NFL team.

 

Bowling Green sparks memories of Garo Yepremian with botched fake field goal

Bowling Green with a brutal and futile fake field goal

This season marks 50 years since Garo Yepremian’s unfortunate attempt at a pass as the Miami Dolphins looked to finish off a perfect season against Washington in the Super Bowl.

That could have been the inspiration for Bowling Green’s brutal attempt at an actual fake field goal Saturday against Buffalo.

As a warning, the scoop and score didn’t count for Buffalo.

However, the Falcons’ futility is worth watching as a tribute to what can go wrong with the ball in the hands of the wrong people

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-pxMm_UdY4

As a point of clarity, Yepremian’s “pass” was attempted after he had a field-goal attempt blocked.

Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey absolutely lost it after Buffalo’s comeback fell short

Dorsey smashed his headset, a tablet — just about everything within arm’s reach after the Bills lost to the Dolphins.

The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins engaged in a rock fight for early control over the AFC East. Despite falling behind three separate times in a back-and-forth game — including headed into the fourth quarter — the Dolphins survived to improve to 3-0 while dealing the current Super Bowl favorites their first loss of the season.

But it wasn’t without drama. First came the apparent head injury that cost Tua Tagovailoa four snaps before his controversial return in the second half. Then came an uncharacteristic fourth down throw where Josh Allen bounced a pass to a wide-open Isaiah McKenzie. Then, after a safety, the Bills’ comeback efforts ground to a halt when McKenzie was tackled in bounds with eight seconds to play and Buffalo was unable to spike the ball in time to set up one final play.

All of this led Bills offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey to take out all his frustrations on, well, just about anything he could find in the Buffalo coaching box.

It’s a rough look the afternoon after the NFL sent out a memo warning players not to break the tablets Microsoft has spent enormous cash to keep prominently placed on every sideline in the league. Dorsey’s likely staring down a fine for disrespecting a league sponsor — but to his credit, he still broke one fewer tablet than Tom Brady did last week.

[listicle id=1965590]

[mm-video type=video id=01gdk17av2dz183xymwb playlist_id=01f09p3bf720d8rg02 player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01gdk17av2dz183xymwb/01gdk17av2dz183xymwb-39eb7eeb315345edbf02483eb7cbb361.jpg]

Big Ten Week 1 Rewind: All Big Ten results and updated standings

Ohio State’s big finish vs Notre Dame, Iowa has the most Iowa win, and don’t be fooled by the Nebraska final score. The Big Ten Week 1 rewind is live.

We may have gotten an early taste of Big Ten football in Week 0, but the Week 1 slate saw 13 of 14 Big Ten members in action from Thursday night through Saturday night. And it was a doozy to get us started. Ohio State had its mega showdown with Notre Dame in Ohio Stadium to highlight the weekend slate not just for the Big Ten, but the entire top 25.

Elsewhere, you simply had to see how Iowa won its game to believe it, and Nebraska somehow managed to come up with a final score that wasn’t nearly as comfortable as it might seem. Penn State started the weekend off with a thriller against Purdue on Thursday night, and Indiana followed the next night with a victory down to the wire against Illinois.

Northwestern was off in Week 1 after taking care of Nebraska in Week 0 in Ireland. Here’s how the rest of the weekend went around the Big Ten, including the Thursday and Friday results.