MACtion returns this week as the Miami (OH) Redhawks host the Buffalo Bulls in a Mid-American Conference matchup on Tuesday night. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at Fred C. Yager Stadium, with both teams holding 5-3 overall records and 3-1 marks in conference play.
The Ohio Bobcats (6-2, 4-0) remain the only MAC team with an unblemished conference record, making this game a potential conference title game eliminator. Miami (OH) won 37-20 in Buffalo last season and leads the all-time series 18-9.
Miami (OH) is favored by 6.5 points at home, with an over/under of 44.5 points. Buffalo's team total is set at 18.5 points. The Redhawks are -220 on the money line, while the Bulls are +184.
Coaching matchup
Chuck Martin is in his 13th season as Miami (OH) head coach and has guided the program to five consecutive bowl appearances. Pete Lambo is in his third season at Buffalo and is seeking a second bowl bid. In their two previous head-to-head meetings, the Redhawks won 23-10 in Oxford in 2023 and 37-20 in Buffalo last season.
Key factors
Miami (OH) won the turnover battle 3-0 last year in Buffalo, helping secure a comfortable victory despite being outgained. The Redhawks rushed for 162 yards while limiting the Bulls to 46 yards on the ground. Buffalo has adopted a more run-heavy approach in 2026, while Miami (OH) boasts one of the best run defenses in the MAC, making control of the line of scrimmage crucial.
Betting pick
The SportsLine Projection Model favors the over 45.5 points at -110. Both teams rank outside the top 75 nationally in scoring, but those numbers are skewed by non-conference games against power conference opponents. Since the start of MAC play, Buffalo has averaged 195.8 rushing yards per game and Miami (OH) 184.0 yards per game. They have combined to average 49.5 points per game in conference play. The model predicts a combined 51 points on average, with the over hitting in 65% of simulations.
