After a coaching change and two losing seasons in the previous three years, expectations weren’t high for Buffalo going into 2024.
But head coach Pete Lembo and the Bulls flourished. Buffalo went 9-4 overall, including 6-2 in MAC play. The Bulls closed the year with a decisive 26-7 victory over Liberty in the Bahamas Bowl.
Now expectations are a bit different for Buffalo, as the Bulls are viewed as legitimate contenders to take the MAC title.
Buffalo Football’s MAC Title Betting Odds
Buffalo’s odds to win the MAC are +450, via BetMGM, and the team’s odds of making the league championship game are +170.
The Bulls’ odds of making the College Football Playoff are +4000.
Buffalo Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
Buffalo’s win total Over/Under is 7.5, with Under 7.5 at -140 and Over 7.5 at +118.
Buffalo Football’s 2025 Schedule
Aug. 28 @ Minnesota
Sept. 6 vs. Saint Francis
Sept. 13 @ Kent State
Sept. 20 vs. Troy
Sept. 27 vs. UConn
Oct. 4 vs. Eastern Michigan
Oct. 18 @ UMass
Oct. 25 vs. Akron
Nov. 1 @ Bowling Green
Nov. 12 @ Central Michigan
Nov. 19 vs. Miami (Ohio)
Nov. 28 vs. Ohio
Dec. 6 MAC Championship
Bold indicates MAC contests
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Key Buffalo Football Returners
2024 All-MAC 1st Team
LB Red Murdock
2nd Team
EDGE Kobe Stewart
3rd Team
OL Trevor Brock
OL Tyler Doty
WR Victor Snow
RB Al-Jay Henderson
DL Dion Crawford
Buffalo Football Loaded With Experience
Buffalo has some of the best returning talent in the Group of Five.
However, that’s a different story at quarterback as CJ Ogbonna is gone after leading the team with 2,381 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions on a 57% completion rate and rushing for 343 yards and eight scores.
The Bulls added transfer quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson, who played at Kansas State last year and at UConn before that and is expected to be the leading candidate to win the starting job. Redshirt senior Gunnar Gray, who played in four games last year, could also be in the mix.
At running back and receiver, Al-Jay Henderson and Victor Snow are both back after making the all-conference third team in 2024.
Henderson ran for 1,078 yards and nine touchdowns while catching 19 passes for 238 yards and a score. Snow caught a team-best 55 passes and six touchdowns while tallying 651 yards through the air and also ran for 61 yards and two scores.
Buffalo also has experience in the trenches on both sides of the ball. Right guard Tyler Doty and left guard Trevor Brock both return after making the All-MAC third team. Starting left tackle Henry Tabansi is also back.
On the defensive side, Group of Five All-American EDGE Kobe Stewart is back after leading the team with 9.5 sacks to go with 40 tackles, 12 for loss, as well as two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Dion Crawford, who plays all over the field, made the all-conference third team as well after recording 59 tackles, 15 TFLs, 8.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and a safety.
Shaun Dolac, a G5 All-American who’s one of the most productive linebackers Buffalo has ever seen, is gone. But another G5 All-American linebacker, Red Murdock, is returning. He was second in the country behind only Dolac with 156 tackles while adding 16.5 TFLs, two sacks, seven fumble recoveries, an interception, a pass breakup, and four QB hurries.
Defensive backs Solomon Brown (66 tackles, six pass breakups and one pick in 2024), Marquis Cooper (55 tackles, eight pass breakups, and two interceptions), Jalen McNair (53 tackles, three pass breakups, and a pick), Charles McCartherens (35 tackles, four pass breakups, and a pick), and Jonathan Capo (23 tackles) are all back as well.
Buffalo Football Season Prediction
I predict Buffalo will win the MAC and will go Over 7.5 wins.
I really want to pick Miami (Ohio) to win the MAC, but I think this Buffalo team is better positioned to do that. I really like what I saw from Buffalo in Pete Lembo’s first season as the head coach. Either way, it’s reasonable to expect the Bulls will have another exciting season in 2025.
I only see two clear losses on Buffalo’s schedule. One is early in the season, at Minnesota, though I could see Buffalo pulling off a G5 upset there as well. I also expect Buffalo will fall against at least one MAC team during the regular season, perhaps against Miami in November.
But aside from those contests, I could see Buffalo being favored in all of their other regular season matchups. Maybe Buffalo has a tough time against Ohio in the Bulls’ regular season finale or against UConn in September, but even losses there would put the Bulls at just four losses on the year.
I expect Buffalo will get to nine wins after the regular season and will secure a MAC Championship in 2025.
