Added...
Buffalo +3 (-115) [1 Unit]
'an_horse'
Akron is a solid football team this year. Having said that, I do feel that Buffalo has a much more opportunistic defense, which has really focused on creating turnovers this season. I've seen Buffalo play three times this season, and their safeties can HIT. One of them really does remind me of Bob Sanders, as the announcers pointed out repeatedly last week.
I also like Buffalo getting a FG in what should be a very, very tight game. These teams match up well against one another, but I think the key will be Willy's good decision making. The senior QB is having a stellar year, and if not for Nate Davis of the Cards, he could very well be MVP of the MAC, and is without a doubt the best QB in the MAC East this year.
Comparing the stats of Willy and Jacquemain, there is one thing that jumps out at me in particular...
<TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=yspscbrdbg align=middle><TD class=ysptblhdr align=left colSpan=16 height=18>Passing</TD><TD class=yspwhitebg noWrap width=1 rowSpan=100><SPACER height="1" width="1" type="block"></TD></TR><TR class=ysptblthbody1 align=right><TD class=yspdetailttl height=18></TD><TD class=yspdetailttl align=left width="21%">Name</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>G</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>QBRat</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Att</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Comp</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Pct</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Yds</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Y/A</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Y/G</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>TD</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Int</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Long</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Sack</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>YdsL</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl height=18></TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD class=yspscores></TD><TD class=yspscores align=left>Drew Willy</TD><TD class=yspscores>9</TD><TD class=yspscores>141.0</TD><TD class=yspscores>286</TD><TD class=yspscores>179</TD><TD class=yspscores>62.6</TD><TD class=yspscores>2096</TD><TD class=yspscores>7.3</TD><TD class=yspscores>232.9</TD><TD class=yspscores>17</TD><TD class=yspscores>4</TD><TD class=yspscores>68</TD><TD class=yspscores>21</TD><TD class=yspscores>-145</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=yspwhitebg cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR class=yspscbrdbg align=middle><TD class=ysptblhdr align=left colSpan=16 height=18>Passing</TD><TD class=yspwhitebg noWrap width=1 rowSpan=100><SPACER height="1" width="1" type="block"></TD></TR><TR class=ysptblthbody1 align=right><TD class=yspdetailttl height=18></TD><TD class=yspdetailttl align=left width="21%">Name</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>G</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>QBRat</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Att</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Comp</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Pct</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Yds</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Y/A</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Y/G</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>TD</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Int</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Long</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>Sack</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl>YdsL</TD><TD class=yspdetailttl height=18></TD></TR><TR class=ysprow1 align=right><TD class=yspscores></TD><TD class=yspscores align=left>Chris Jacqu</TD><TD class=yspscores>9</TD><TD class=yspscores>131.6</TD><TD class=yspscores>286</TD><TD class=yspscores>170</TD><TD class=yspscores>59.4</TD><TD class=yspscores>2052</TD><TD class=yspscores>7.2</TD><TD class=yspscores>228.0</TD><TD class=yspscores>17</TD><TD class=yspscores>11</TD><TD class=yspscores>49</TD><TD class=yspscores>14</TD><TD class=yspscores>-88</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Willy has a 4.25-1 TD/INT ratio, while Jacquemain has only a 1.5-1 TD/INT ratio. I think the Senior QB making the better decisions will be the deciding factor in this matchup. IMO, the Bulls have the top player at every offensive skill position. I believe the best receiver in this game, by far, is Naaman Roosevelt of the Bulls. The kid is a stud, and has 843 yards receiving on the year, averaging over 14 yards per catch, with 7 TDs. He's got tremendous hands, and great speed. Akron's running back, Kennedy, is a stud...but if I had my choice, I'd go with the Bulls starter James Starks, who is not only fast, but a big, bruising back, who fights hard for extra yardage on every carry. His stats mirror Kennedy's, but he's played two less games this season.
Just some of the reasons I like Buffalo. I'm also somewhat of a Turner Gil fan, who has really turned this Bulls program around. I think he brings a winning attitude, and I like how he hasn't been so conservative, even with the lead, in the Bulls most recent victories.
:cheers: