Sep 2, 20232 min read

Preview: BUFFALO @ #19 WISCONSIN

Bucky the Badger — Credit: Terry via Flickr

The Buffalo Bulls will travel to Madison, WI to take on the Wisconsin Badgers.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

- 3:30 PM Eastern Time Kickoff on FS1

- Eric Collins and Devin Gardner will be on the call for FS1

- On the Wisconsin side radio broadcast will be on FM 97.3 and AM 920 in Milwaukee and FM 101.5 and AM 1310 in Madison. On the Buffalo side, the radio broadcast will be on ESPN 1520.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

This will be the opening game for each team in 2023 and will be only the second meeting ever between the Bulls and Badgers. Wisconsin won the first meeting 35-3 in 2006. This game is also the first game for Luke Fickell as head coach of Wisconsin. A huge change in offensive philosophy will bring excitement to the Badger faithful. The Bulls are coached by Maurice Linguist who is in his third season as Buffalo head coach. The Bulls are coming off a 7-6 season capped off by a 23-21 victory over Georgia Southern in the Camellia Bowl. The Bulls only return 10 starters, five on each side of the ball, but do get back quarterback Cole Snyder who threw for 3,030 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

KEY PLAYERS

QB Cole Snyder – Buffalo

LB Shaun Dolac – Buffalo

QB Tanner Mordecai – Wisconsin

RB Braelon Allen – Wisconsin

KEY MATCHUPS

New Wisconsin quarterback Tanner Mordecai will be playing in Phil Longo’s Air Raid offense against a Buffalo secondary with a lot of turnover in personnel. If Mordecai is given time, he will pick apart the new members of the Bulls secondary.

Buffalo averaged 142 rushing yards per game in 2022 and return their top two running backs Mike Washington and Ron Cook. However, the Bulls did not face a defensive front similar to the one they will face Saturday against Wisconsin. This will be tough sledding for the Bulls.

PREDICTION

Clubber Lang said it best in Rocky III: “Prediction? Pain.” The Badgers are going to be FIRED UP for Luke Fickell’s first game at Camp Randall Stadium. The new high-flying offense will be too much and overwhelm the Buffalo defense. The Buffalo offense will be smothered by the Wisconsin defense as eight starters return for the Badgers. Wisconsin wins easily, 41-10.