The Toledo Rockets (12-8), the Mid-American’s top scoring team, will be in action against the Buffalo Bulls (11-9) at Savage Arena. The game starts at 7:00 pm ET on Saturday, Jan. 30 and will air on ES3.
The Rockets lost a close one to Ohio 81-79 on Tuesday. Jonathan Williams was the team’s high scorer, putting up 21 points. The Bulls, meanwhile, are coming off a 76-64 win against Ball State on Tuesday. Lamonte Bearden was the game’s top scorer, posting 18 points on 8-for-14 shooting.
Toledo is a five-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is 154 points. The Rockets have gone 12-8 Straight Up (SU) and 9-8 Against The Spread (ATS). Toledo is one of the best passing teams in the nation with an average of 16.6 assists per game. Toledo is very careful and attentive with the ball, averaging the 31st-fewest turnovers per game at only 11.0.
Over on the other bench, Buffalo has a SU record of 11-9 and an ATS record of 8-8-2.
These conference foes meet for what will be their first head-to-head battle of the season. Toledo won the last game in the matchup, but the win was not enough to overtake Buffalo in their recent head-to-head series. Its record is now 4-6 SU over the last few meetings. However, Toledo leads the matchup ATS with a record of 6-4. Buffalo has led in three key areas (field goals, rebounds, and three-pointers) twice over the last five matchups. Toledo has never had the edge in all three categories.
Predictions: SU Winner – Buff, ATS Winner – Buff, O/U – Over
Notes
Toledo is 9-3 SU in its last 12 games at home.
Toledo is 2-6 SU in its last 8 games when playing Buffalo.
Toledo is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Buffalo.
Toledo is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Buffalo.
Toledo holds a 3-4 record this season against teams in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo is 4-3 in conference matchups.
The Buffalo Bulls average 72.1 possessions per game and 1.052 points per possession. The Toledo Rockets earn fewer possessions with 70.4, but they score more points with 1.118.
Toledo has an average effective field goal percentage of 53.1%. Buffalo is a losing 2-4 when opponents have a similar or higher effective field goal percentage.
On average, Toledo attempts 23.0 three pointers and Buffalo attempts 21.0. In games where they have 20 or more three point attempts, the Toledo Rockets are even at 7-7 while the Buffalo Bulls have a solid 9-4 record.
The Toledo Rockets rank 17th with an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.51, while the Buffalo Bulls rank outside the top 100 (270th) with an A/TO of .91.
Toledo ranks 269th in offensive rebounds, while Buffalo ranks 96th in defensive rebounds.
The Toledo Rockets average 4.8 steals per game. When allowing 4 or more steals, the Buffalo Bulls are an even 7-7 this season.
