The Minutemen (-3) are gearing up to host the Liberty Flames in Massachusetts. This conference game starts at 3:30 p.m. ET and ELEV is scheduled to broadcast the action. These two conference adversaries did not get a chance to play one another last season.
Liberty Flames at Massachusetts Minutemen Betting Preview
In this Saturday Independents (FBS) game, Massachusetts is getting picked as the favorite and the team’s currently giving up 3 points. The Flames are also receiving +135 moneyline odds while the Minutemen are -155. Should one side can create a bunch of points in the early stages it would result in a solid betting opportunity in-game. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 75.5 points.
The game’s total has swung higher after opening at 74.5. The original spread of -3 hasn’t shifted.
The profitable Flames are 3-4 against the spread (ATS) and have gained 4.6 units so far. The team’s posted an Over-Under record of 4-3. The Minutemen have lost 3.3 units for moneyline bettors this season. They’re 3-6 ATS and six of their games have gone over the total.
The Flames have gone 4-3 straight up (SU), including 0-2 SU against IndFBS opponents. The Minutemen are 3-6 SU overall and are also 0-0 SU in conference play.
The Flames just pulled off a 48-41 win over Idaho State on October 20 where the defense allowed the Bengals to pass for 397 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for 234 yards. Michael Dean torched the defense in that one with 210 yards and a score on six catches. On the offensive side, Stephen Calvert completed 32-of-48 passes for 362 yards, two scores and two interceptions. Frankie Hickson (133 rushing yards on 22 attempts, three TDs) and Peytton Pickett (24 yards on 10 carries, two TDs) led the ground attack while Antonio Gandy-Golden (10 receptions, 142 yards, two TDs) and DJ Stubbs (eight catches, 108 yards) handled the receiving duties in the win.
Massachusetts enters this one having just earned a 22-17 win over Connecticut. The defense let the Huskies run for 250 yards on 44 rush attempts, including two rush TDs. David Pindell was a bright spot in the defeat for Connecticut, recording 120 rushing yards and a score on 21 attempts. For Massachusetts, Ross Comis completed eight-of-15 passes for 197 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Marquis Young (148 yards on 26 rush attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Comis (63 yards on 12 carries) mounted the running attack while Andy Isabella (four receptions, 78 yards, one TD) and Kyle Horn (two catches, 39 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Breaking down the offensive play-calling, each team has a similar run-pass ratio on the season. Liberty has run the ball on 48.2 percent of its offensive possessions while Massachusetts has a rush percentage of 49.7. The Flames have rushed for 145 yards/game (including 132 per game versus Independents (FBS) opponents) and have 17 scores on the ground this year. The Minutemen are totaling 137 rush yards per game and have 15 total rushing TDs.
The Flames offensive scheme has averaged 331 yards in the air overall (336 per game against conference opposition) and has 16 passing TDs so far. The Minutemen have produced 285 pass yards per contest and have 21 total pass scores.
Defensively, Liberty has allowed 239 rush yards and 249 pass yards per game. The Massachusetts D has allowed 201.0 yards per game to opposing passers and 270.1 yards per game on the ground. The Flames are giving up an adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) of just 6.65 to opponents, while the Minutemen have allowed an 8.24 ANY/A.
Offensively, Calvert is already up to 2,018 passing yards this season. The signal-caller has connected on 147-of-255 attempts with 14 passing scores and six interceptions. He has a 7.25 adjusted net yards per pass attempt, including 6.35 over the last two games.
On the other sideline, Andrew Ford has completed 115-of-177 passes for 1,366 yards, nine TDs and five INTs. Ford’s ANY/A sits at 6.54 for the year and 8.29 over his past two outings.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
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SU Winner – Massachusetts, ATS Winner – Massachusetts, O/U – Under
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Notes
Betting Notes
Liberty has produced 3.5 yards per carry over its past three games and 3.4 over its last two.
Massachusetts has averaged 3.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and 4.1 over its last two.
Massachusetts has lost 12 fumbles this season while Liberty has lost four.
The Flames offense has tallied five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while the Minutemen have accounted for six such plays.
The Liberty defense has allowed 10 pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Massachusetts has given up six such plays.
The Liberty offense has created six rushing plays of 20 yards or more, while Massachusetts has created 12 such runs.
The Flames defense has allowed 19 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while the Minutemen have given up 29 such runs.
The Liberty defense has sacked opposing quarterbacks 14 times this season. Massachusetts has produced just eight sacks.
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