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No. 14 Western Michigan Aims To Row The Boat Against Buffalo

The Associated Press

Buffalo (2-8, 1-5 Mid-American Conference) at No. 14 Western Michigan (10-0, 6-0), 3:30 p.m. EST Saturday (ESPNU).

Line: Western Michigan by 35.

Series Record: Buffalo leads 5-2

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The Broncos, ranked higher than any MAC team since Ball State was No. 12 in 2008, hope to stay in contention for a major bowl bid and extend their overall win streak to 13. Western Michigan, off to the program's best start, is one of two unbeaten teams remaining in the Football Bowl Subdivision, joining top-ranked Alabama (10-0). Buffalo has lost two straight after beating Akron, 41-20, on Oct. 27, and has a shot to spoil the Broncos' season.

KEY MATCHUP

WMU running back Jarvion Franklin vs. Buffalo's rush defense. Franklin recorded his sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game in last week's 37-21 win over Kent State. Franklin, whose 39 career rushing touchdowns are tied for the most in program history, is second in the MAC this season with 1,152 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. Buffalo's run defense is last in the conference, allowing 251.2 yards per game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Western Michigan: Junior linebacker Robert Spillane was named MAC West Division Defensive Player of the Week after the Kent State win. He ranks seventh in the conference with 85 total tackles.

Buffalo: Senior running back Jordan Johnson ran for 100 yards and a touchdown in last week's 35-24 loss at Miami, becoming the seventh player in program history to rush for 2,000 career yards. Johnson is fifth in the MAC this season with 884 yards rushing.

FACTS & FIGURES

Western Michigan fell behind Kent State, 14-0, early in last week's game, but recovered to post its first 10-win season in 108 years of football. . WMU is No. 21 in the latest college football playoff rankings. ... ESPN College GameDay will broadcast live from Kalamazoo on Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. EST. It's only the second time the show is visiting a MAC campus, with the other in 2003 at Bowling Green. . Western Michigan is 17-2 in its last 19 games. . Buffalo tight end Mason Schreck had a career-high 10 catches last week for 89 yards. His 50 catches this season are one more than his previous three years combined. . Bulls coach Lance Leipold has a 7-15 record in two years at Buffalo.

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AP college football website: collegefootball.ap.org

(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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