DaytonDailyNews.com

OXFORD — In a way, the University of Buffalo might be the last team the Miami RedHawks would want to face in their next football game.

Miami lost the ball on six turnovers in its 54-21 loss to Kent State on Oct. 25, and the Bulls lead the Mid-American Conference in turnover margin at plus-nine. In their last two games, a 27-24 overtime win over Army and a 32-19 victory over Ohio, Buffalo has forced 12 fumbles.

"Last week, they forced seven fumbles against Ohio University and came up with four," Miami coach Shane Montgomery said. "They did a lot of things to force Ohio into mistakes and took advantage of them."

Montgomery knows all about teams taking advantage of mistakes. Kent State scored 31 points off Miami's turnovers, including 21 in the second quarter alone.

"We made it easy for them at times by turning the ball over," the Miami coach said.

"The frustrating thing about it, I felt we were moving the ball," he said.

Ironically, turnovers have not been a big problem in most of the RedHawks' games. With two whopping exceptions.

"We had not had a turnover in our two previous games," Montgomery said. "It's been sporadic. In half of our games, we haven't had one turnover. But we had six last week and four against Temple.

"It's hard to stay away from turnovers game after game after game," he said. "They all hurt last Saturday. Once Kent State got the momentum, we couldn't get it back."

Injury update

One good thing about playing on a Tuesday night, according to Montgomery, is that the RedHawks get a couple extra days to recuperate from a variety of injuries.

Sophomore tailback Thomas Merriweather missed the Kent State game with an ankle injury suffered at Bowling Green, but Montgomery expects him to be ready for the Buffalo game.

"He was held out of practice Tuesday, and then I practiced him some (Thursday)," Montgomery said of Merriweather, who leads Miami with 482 rushing yards and four touchdowns. "I would expect to have Thomas. How much he plays and how we use him we probably won't find out until later when we get closer to the game."

Sophomore defensive tackle D.J. Svabik is "very questionable" after missing the KSU contest with an ankle injury, the Miami coach said.

Two other injured defensive linemen, sophomore tackle Sean Redwine, who has missed a couple games, and junior nose tackle Martin Channels, whose play against KSU was limited, are expected to play at Buffalo.

The offensive line hasn't been spared, either. Senior tackle Dave DiFranco re-injured his ankle against Kent State, and sophomore guard Bob Gulley missed his second straight start with an elbow injury. And senior tight end Tom Crabtree "was banged up in the first quarter and didn't play the rest of the game (at KSU)," Montgomery said. All three are expected back in the lineup.

Gafford gone for '08?

Junior free safety Jordan Gafford, who suffered a stress fracture in his shin in the second game at Michigan and hasn't played since, probably will be sidelined for the rest of the season, Montgomery said.

"He'll try to get a medical hardship," Montgomery said. That would prevent the 2008 season from counting against his seasons of eligibility.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2197 or pconrad@coxohio.com.