Buffalo vs. DePaul: Insights and Predictions

College basketball rolls on in the South Loop tonight as the DePaul Blue Demons welcome the Buffalo Bulls to Wintrust Arena. Both squads enter at 2-0, each looking to keep their early momentum alive. For DePaul, this matchup comes on the heels of a narrow escape against Stonehill, while Buffalo is fresh off wins over Southern Miss and Green Bay. With a Friday showdown against Northwestern looming, this sets up as a key tune-up game for the Blue Demons. DePaul opened as a heavy favorite, and on paper, this looks like a chance to regain control and make a statement.

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Buffalo vs. DePaul Odds

Can NJ Benson step and deliver for the Blue Demons tonight?

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Spread

Buffalo: +18.5 (-105)

DePaul: -18.5 (-115)

Total

Over: 153.5 (-108)

Under: 153.5 (-112)

Moneyline

Buffalo: N/A

DePaul: N/A

Buffalo vs. DePaul Best Bet

Game of the day for some, but not for all. The DePaul Blue Demons host the Buffalo Bulls in the South Loop at Wintrust Arena this evening. Both teams enter at 2-0, looking to stay unbeaten. Buffalo is coming off wins against Southern Miss and Green Bay, while DePaul took down Chicago State and survived a close call against Stonehill.

DePaul opened as a 17 point home favorite and has since moved to 18.5. I grabbed the 17 last night because the line felt too low, and even with the bump, I still believe it is. Despite nearly slipping against Stonehill, the Blue Demons now face their weakest opponent yet, according to Bart Torvik’s ratings. Their first two opponents ranked in the 310s, while Buffalo sits closer to 350. There is a potential look ahead spot with Northwestern on deck Friday, but can a team like DePaul really afford to look ahead? Personally, I do not think so. Plus, there is no travel factor to worry about.

Buffalo has struggled mightily on defense through two games, both inside and out. That is alarming considering the Bulls have faced Green Bay and Southern Miss, ranked No. 315 and No. 288 in adjusted offensive efficiency. Buffalo currently ranks tenth worst nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency and 329th in effective field goal defense. Now they face a DePaul offense ranked inside the top 75.

DePaul’s biggest issue against Stonehill came at the free throw line, which has been a long-standing weakness. I would know, I went there. Through two games, they are shooting under 65 percent from the stripe. They are also hitting just 26.5 percent from deep. They are not overly reliant on the three, but those numbers have to improve. Free throws especially, the Blue Demons went 21 for 35 against Stonehill. Head coach Chris Holtmann has reportedly made a point of getting his guys back into Wintrust to put in extra work from the line, so I expect to see progress there tonight.

I found it interesting how some of the advanced metrics view this matchup. Bart Torvik projects DePaul to roll past Buffalo by 26 points, while Haslametrics has the Blue Demons winning by 16. I do not usually put too much weight on projected scores when handicapping, but this feels like a spot where DePaul does handle business convincingly.

The pace difference stands out as a key factor. DePaul plays much slower than Buffalo, which could push the Bulls out of their rhythm. According to Haslametrics, DePaul ranks 228th in pace, while Buffalo sits at 61st. Even with that slower tempo, DePaul cannot afford to underplay the Bulls the way they did against Stonehill, jumping out to a 20 plus point lead before letting it slip away.

DePaul has plenty to clean up, but this matchup feels like a prime opportunity to do so. The Bulls’ defensive struggles line up perfectly for the Blue Demons to find their rhythm and build confidence before facing Northwestern later this week. Expect Holtmann’s squad to control tempo, attack the paint, and take advantage of Buffalo’s defensive inefficiencies. If DePaul can simply hit free throws and stay composed late, this should be a comfortable win that helps them reset after a shaky performance against Stonehill. All signs point toward a bounce-back showing for the Blue Demons tonight at Wintrust Arena.