Game Time:  7:00 PM, Saturday, October 2nd, 2021

Venue:  Protective Stadium, Birmingham, Alabama

Where to Watch: CBS Sports Network

 

 

DraftKings:  Spread: UAB -2; Over/Under:  49.5 points

Circa:  Spread: UAB -2.5; Over/Under:  49.5 points

VegasInsider:  Spread:  UAB -2; Over/Under: 49.5 points

 

Liberty: 3-1 (Independents) 

UAB:  3-1 (C-USA West)

 

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Liberty opened their season against Campbell with a blow out win 48-7… so I looked up Campbell and they are a private Christian college located in the heart of North Carolina (They still do that super old fashioned, misogynistic thing of calling the men’s teams by their mascot name “Camels” and then the women’s teams by their gender “Lady Camels”), quaint…. Game 2  was a win over Troy 21-13.  Game 3 was another blow-out against the struggling Old Dominion 45-17.  Game 4 was a loss to Syracuse 24-21, a hard fought loss but still a loss. 

 

UAB has played three small football programs and one biggie.  They are 3-1.  They opened with a blowout win over JSU 31-0.  Not a lot of scoring on JSU’s end, but a lot of heart.  Game 2 they faced GEORGIA… yes, the Georgia Bulldogs.  UAB lost 56-7… I understand JSU was rooting for Georgia.  Game 3 UAB took out their frustration on the North Texas Mean Green 40-6.  Game 4 was a victory over the Tulane Green Wave 28-21.

The Liberty Flames offense has been up and down with blowout wins, close wins, and a loss on their record.  They are scoring 33.8 points per game on 19 touchdowns from 417.3 yards per game.  QB Malik Willis leads the team in passing and rushing. He does a lot of everything.  He has help from WR Demario Douglas and RB TJ Green… and you can’t sleep on Shedro Louis.

The UAB offense has gone through some changes.  They started with Tyler Johnson III at quarterback and then for undisclosed reasons Tyler is out.  Now we have QB Dylan Hopkiins in charge… and he’s doing a good job.  Dylan is 29-39 for 501 yards, 7 TDs, 1 interception.  He must have a headache from the sacks though, he’s been dropped 6 times.  The offensive line may have liked Tyler better.  RB DeWayne McBride and RB Jermaine Brown Jr split the rushing duties.  TE Gerrit Prince leads the team in receiving yards 269, but WR Trea Shropshire is close behind.

 

 

The Liberty defense is ranked #8 in the FBS having only given up 251.8 yards per game.  They drop to 23rd in pass defense having given up 54 receptions so far.. Still good.  They are still feeling the sting of Syracuse Orange on their stats

UAB is ranked 49th in total defense in the FBS having given up 327.5 yards a game.

 

Our prediction for Saturday, October 2nd, is…  UAB 35 - Liberty 24

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Liberty is 7-3 ATS as the underdog the last 3 seasons.

In all games Liberty is 19-8 ATS the last 3 seasons

Liberty is 21-8 ATS in road games since 1993.

UAB is 11-6 ATS as a favorite the last 3 seasons

UAB 4-1 ATS in a home game with a total between 42.5 - 49, last 3 seasons.

 

Liberty:  WR DJ Stubbs (undisclosed) questionable  * P Aiden Alves (undisclosed) Questionable

UAB:  LB Kristopher Moll (hand)  Out *  QB Tyler Johnston III  (undisclosed) Out indefinitely *  DB TaDarryl Marshall  (undisclosed) Out Indefinitely  *  T  Sidney Wells (undisclosed)  Questionable

Liberty:  RB Shedro Louis.  This sophomore could pick it up against UAB who will be doing their best to shut down QB Malik Willis and WR Demario Douglas.  A package of slip screen passes for Shedro would be nice and easy.

UAB:  QB Dylan Hopkins.  A big win would help cement Dylan as the leader of this team.  With Tyler Johnston out, Dylan has to make this his team. 

 

 

Liberty:  QB Malik Willis, RB Joshua Mack, TE Johnny Huntley, WR Kevin Shaa, WR Noah Frith, WR DJ Stubbs, LT Tristan Schultz, LG Damian Bounds, C Thomas Sargeant, RT Cooper McCaw RG  Brendan Schlittler 

UAB:  QB Dylan Hopkins, RB Jermaine Brown Jr, TE Hayden Pittman, WR Samario Rudolph, WR Trea Shropshire, WR Ryan Davis, LT Kadeem Telfort, LG Coby Ragland, C Andrew Smith Jr, RG Matthew Trehern, RT Sidney Wells

 

 

 

Liberty:

Passing: Malik Willis  818 yards

Rushing:  Malik Willis:  274 yards

Receiving: Demario Douglas  247 yards

Tackles:  Storey Jackson  31

Interceptions:  Duron Lowe 1

UAB:

Passing: Dylan Hopkiins  501 yards

Rushing:  DeWayne McBride  282 yards

Receiving:  Gerrit Price 269 yards

Tackles:  Noah Wilder 19

Interceptions:  Keondre Swoopes 2

Mostly Cloudy.  Humidity 63%.  High of 85*  wind 8 moh.