Buffalo (0-0 overall, 0-0 MAC) at Minnesota (0-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten)
When: Thursday, 6:00 p.m. CT – Minneapolis, Minn.
Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (50,805)
TV/Radio: BTN, 107.9 FM KOOL 108
Coach: Lance Leipold (3rd season)
Spread: Minnesota -24½, o/u: 50½
INSIDE THE GAME
Bulls at a Glance
If you’ve heard of Buffalo head coach Lance Leipold before, it’s most likely due to his immense success at a different program; Wisconsin–Whitewater. Leipold led the Warhawks to six NCAA Division III Championships in eight seasons. That success hasn’t translated to the FBS level yet, but it’s still early in his tenure.
Keep an eye on sophomore Tyree Jackson; he’ll be hard to miss. The towering dual-threat quarterback accounted for over 2,200 yards and 14 touchdowns as a true freshman. Coach Fleck is keenly aware of the challenges Jackson presents.
“They’ve got a phenomenal quarterback that we recruited when I was out there,” said Fleck. “He’s about 6’6″, 6’7″, he can run, he can throw, he can do it all.”
Despite Jackson’s talent, Buffalo’s offense was atrocious last season. The Bulls ranked 126th in the nation in scoring, averaging only 16.5 ppg. Getting shutout by Fleck’s Western Michigan squad, 38-0, certainly didn’t help the average.
The Bulls were notoriously slow starting in 2016. UB scored only 10 points total in the first quarter of games.
Middle linebacker Khalil Hodge leads a defense that returns eight starters. Hodge was a tackling machine, finishing with 123 stops including 7 behind the line of scrimmage.
Former Gophers quarterback coach Jim Zebrowski now holds the same position at Buffalo. Zebrowski coached five seasons under Jerry Kill.
Coach Speak
“We have to play our best football. We can’t sit there and say, ‘Okay, this is Buffalo.’ Our team can’t worry about who we play. Yes, the X and O forms the game plan but in terms of us, we have to be the best “us” we can be.” – P.J. Fleck
“After that post-game handshake in Kalamazoo, it was very apparent that P.J. would be a hot commodity, probably moving up to a Power 5 school. I thought we’d be done with him and his program.” – Lance Leipold
STORYLINE CENTRAL
As a fan, one of the best ways to get a feel for a new team is by taking a look through the eyes of a local beat writer. Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News takes a great early season look at UB. The big takeaway? Expectations aren’t high this year, with a 4-8 preseason prediction.
Likewise, Tim Riordan of Bull Run has a short preview from a Buffalo perspective. Riordan doesn’t have much confidence in Buffalo’s receiving corp, which could be good news for Minnesota’s inexperienced corners.
The start of the P.J. Fleck era hasn’t been short on national media attention. The trend continued today with a Washington Post profile by Chuck Culpepper.
It’s one of the biggest stories from fall camp and for good reason. Minnesota’s quarterback competition will be front and center on Thursday, and Andy Greder of the Pioneer Press dives into the current two-quarterback rotation.
It’s not an unbiased news story, so you’re going to get a fair amount of spin, but UB Football Insider has an interview with head coach Lance Leipold previewing Thursday’s opener.
WHO WINS?
The Gophers Win If…
They can get Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks rolling early and often. One of the best running back tandems in the country, Smith and Brooks will be running behind a line that hasn’t had much time to gel in the fall (Fleck did announce Tuesday that Garrison Wright will play in the opener). The Gophers will want to take some of the pressure off their inexperienced quarterbacks, and a steady ground game would be a nice cushion for the competing signal callers. Buffalo is well aware of the task in front of them.
“Two very good backs, very explosive,” said Lance Leipold. “They complement each other real well; get down hill. They’re trying to put something together up front, offensively, in the line area.”
The Bulls Win If…
They can test Minnesota’s inexperienced cornerbacks. The Gophers interior line and deep linebacker corp should be able to overmatch the Bull’s rushing attack, but questions surround Minnesota’s depth at corner. Buffalo lost their three of their top offensive options from last year, but will need to expose the Gophers getting their first taste of college football. It’s a long shot, but isn’t everything when you’re a 24-point underdog?