The Ohio Bobcats (7-4) head to Buffalo to wrap up their regular season against the Buffalo Bulls (5-6) on Friday afternoon. This is a critical season finale for both teams. Buffalo has a chance to become bowl eligible with a win, while Ohio aims to claim a spot in the MAC title game. Here, I break down this MAC matchup and give you my Ohio vs Buffalo prediction before kickoff.
Our Ohio vs Buffalo Pick
Pick: Ohio -7
Confidence: ★★★★☆
Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Ohio Bobcats vs Buffalo Bulls
- Date & Time: Friday, November 28, 2025, 12:00 PM ET
- Venue: UB Stadium, Buffalo, NY
- Broadcast: ESPNU
Key Storylines
- Ohio seeking consistency and a strong finish: The Bobcats are 7-4 overall and they are tied for second place in the MAC going into this contest. The Bobcats could end up in the MAC championship game against Western Michigan with a win in this contest and some other results going their way.
- Buffalo playing for bowl eligibility: The Bulls are 5-6 and must win to reach bowl eligibility. That type of do-or-die motivation at home can lead to an elevated level of performance. But this is a tough test for the Bulls and getting to bowl season is certainly going to be a challenge for them on Black Friday.
- Bulls offense vs. Ohio defense: Buffalo’s offense has produced only 23.8 points per game (ranked 95th nationally), while Ohio’s defense limits opponents to 22.6 PPG. The Bobcats certainly have the edge in this game thanks to their defense and Buffalo will need to summon something special to pull this game out.
Quarterback Play
Ohio quarterback Parker Navarro has thrown for 2,085 yards this season with 12 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Navarro just needs to manage games for Ohio to be successful, as Sieh Bangura enters this game with over 1,000 yards on the ground.
Buffalo’s Ta’Quan Roberson leads the Bulls’ offense, with 2,250 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Roberson’s volume passing has produced yardage, but turnover issues are something that the Bulls will need to overcome here.
Betting Trends
- Ohio is 5-5-1 against the spread so far this season.
- Buffalo is 4-7 against the spread going into this game.
- Ohio has gone under the total in 6 of their first 11 games.
- Buffalo has gone over the total 6 times in their 11 outings entering Friday.
Ohio vs Buffalo Model Projection
Score Projection: Ohio 28 – Buffalo 17
Win Probability: Ohio 65%, Buffalo 35%
Final Thoughts
Buffalo isn’t going to go down without a fight here. But I think that Ohio will get the win and give themselves a chance to end the weekend with a spot in the MAC championship game. I’m going to lay the points with the Bobcats, with the stability of Navarro playing a major role in them covering the number in Western New York.
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