It has been a disappointing season for the UB Bulls football team(4-6, 2-4), however a win on Senior Night over the NIU Huskies(7-3, 5-1) could help salvage things. With just two games to go, UB finds themselves two wins away from achieving bowl eligibility and will have a tough task to do it as NIU has a chance to clinch the MAC West with a win of their own.
Last Time Out
In their last game, the UB Bulls were embarrassed 45-18 by Miami(OH) on national television. UB had no answers to stop the Redhawks offense as they put up 536 total yards with an average of 8.4 yards per play. Senior quarterback Brett Gabbert torched the Bulls defense for four touchdowns on 21-of-28 completions with 351 yards.
Kyle Vantrease came back from an injury scare to play the first half before not playing the second half. Junior Matt Myers came on in relief, however the two quarterbacks combined to go 18-of-31 for just 227 with one touchdown and one interception. The Bulls’ normally efficient run game struggled to move in the trenches as they averaged just 3.1 yards per carry as opposed to their season average of 4.4 yards per carry.
The Huskies are an impressive 7-3, but they’ve had some very good luck in that they secured their sixth one-score victory of the season last week. NIU was able to comeback to kick a field goal as time expired for a 30-29 victory after losing the lead with 1:42 remaining. That win put NIU in the driver’s seat of the MAC West division.
Last time UB and NIU Played
After winning their first ever meeting, UB lost 12-straight games to NIU until last year’s 49-30 season opening win in DeKalb. The Bulls took a 21-16 lead into halftime before scoring four-straight touchdowns to start the second half to put the game out of reach.
Linebacker Tim Terry and cornerback Isaiah King both returned fumbles for touchdowns within minutes of each other, then linebacker Kadofi Wright added an interception return for touchdown as well. Offensively, running back Jaret Patterson led the way with 137 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
NIU leads UB 12-2 in the all-time series. UB has never beaten NIU at UB Stadium as they are 0-5 all-time.
Rankings
| Team Statistics | UB | NIU |
| Points per game | 31.5(T-44th) | 31.5(T-44th) |
| Points allowed per game | 30.6(100th) | 33.3(110th) |
| Rushing yards per game | 197.5(30th) | 220.2(15th) |
| Passing yards per game | 221.2(71st) | 212.0(87th) |
| Total offense | 418.7(57th) | 432.2(48th) |
| 3rd down pct | 45.7(22nd) | 36.8(89th) |
| Rushing yards allowed per game | 198.1(111th) | 208.8(119th) |
| Passing yards allowed per game | 228.1(62nd) | 232.1(68th) |
| Total defense | 426.2(99th) | 440.9(109th) |
| Opposing 3rd down pct | 38.6(59th) | 37.2(50th) |
Bundt’s NIU-UB Preview
Degenerate Danger Zone
Northern Illinois -2.5
NIU ML (-120), UB ML (+100)
Over/Under 59.5
Tune In
When:
Wednesday, November 17th at 7 P.M.
UB Stadium
Amherst, NY
TV:
ESPN2
John Schriffen (play-by-play) and Cole Cubelic (analyst) will be on the call
Radio:
Buffalo: ESPN 1520 (1520 AM)
Rochester: 1280 AM
Be sure to follow @BulletPoints716 for more UB coverage including our game preview podcast and check out our men’s basketball coverage!
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