With the Buffalo Bills set to take on the defending champion L.A. Rams, the Hilbert campus, just up the road from One Bills Drive, was covered with red, white and blue attire Thursday.

Students sported their favorite gear in anticipation of the first game of the NFL season, in a year where the Bills are expected to go far, with many analysts – and bookmakers – picking them as the favorites to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February.

Joseph Kupczyk said he thinks the game will be close, but that the Bills will prevail, with quarterback Josh Allen leading the way.

And he believes the teams biggest add in the offseason will be extra motivated going up against his former squad, Kupczyk said.

“I think Von Miller is going to have a day against his old team.

Head football coach Jim Kubiak, who also writes about the Bills as a guest columnist for The Buffalo News, said the team that management has built around Allen makes them an obvious choice to win it all. He also believes that the team has built the type of culture needed to play well with the immense pressure of those expectations.

“If they can stay healthy, I don’t think there’s a team in the league that they can’t beat,” he said.

College President Michael Brophy said he and his family look forward to snuggling with their dogs while taking in the game tonight.

“I don’t think the Bills take anything for granted,” he said.