The two Tuesday CUSA games only racked up a mere 41 points combined, but don’t let that discourage you from tuning in to more midweek excitement! On Wednesday, the Liberty Flames are set to face off against the Kennesaw State Owls as they aim to keep their undefeated streak alive.
Our Liberty vs. Kennesaw State prediction has all the details you need, including the latest betting odds and a look at each team’s prospects for the rest of the 2024 college football season.
Liberty vs. Kennesaw State Betting Preview
All Liberty vs. Kennesaw State odds are from DraftKings Sportsbook and are correct as of Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024. The CFN spread comes from College Football Network’s Football Playoff Meter.
- CFN FPM Spread
Liberty -20 - Spread
Liberty -27 - Moneyline
Liberty -4000, Kennesaw State +1600 - Over/Under
47 points - Game time
7 p.m. ET - Location
Fifth Third Stadium | Kennesaw, GA - Predicted Weather at Kick
50 degrees, clear, 4 mph winds - How to Watch
CBS Sports Network
Wednesday night marks the third-ever matchup between Liberty and Kennesaw State. While the Owls won the last time the two teams met (2017), the Flames hold a 2-1 advantage over the first-year FBS outfit. For the fifth consecutive game this fall, Jamey Chadwell’s team is a moneyline favorite.
They’ve yet to taste defeat, and this is the heaviest they’ve been favored.
MORE: Simulate the College Football Season with CFN’s College Football Playoff Predictor
While the Flames shouldn’t be extinguished on Wednesday night, the Liberty vs. Kennesaw State odds offer some chance to make a little money. The spread line jumped out to 26 points midweek, and the CUSA frontrunners have covered the spread just once this season (vs. the East Carolina Pirates).
Kennesaw State covered the last time they were a 20+ point underdog (vs. the UTSA Roadrunners). There’s value to be had.
Liberty’s Winning Probability
According to the CFN FPM, Liberty has a 93.1% chance of beating Kennesaw State on Wednesday night. With the Owls yet to win, it’s unsurprising that the Flames have such a high win percentage. It’s comfortably the easiest remaining game for the reigning CUSA champions.
- at Kennesaw State: 93.1%
- vs. Jacksonville State: 75.3%
- at Middle Tennessee: 81.6%
- at UMass: 82.6%
- vs. Western Kentucky: 61.9%
- at Sam Houston: 66.4%
Kennesaw State’s Winning Probability
Conversely, Kennesaw State has just a 6.9% chance of beating Liberty on Wednesday night. It is the second-hardest game on the schedule, with the trip to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers having a lower win probability due to it being a road game.
- vs. Liberty: 6.9%
- at Western Kentucky: 6.5%
- at UTEP: 28.4%
- vs. Sam Houston: 17.9%
- vs. FIU: 26.6%
- at Louisiana Tech: 19.4%
Prediction for Liberty vs. Kennesaw State
Liberty aims to hold onto its spot among the last 10 undefeated college football teams in Week 9, while Brian Bohannon’s Kennesaw State squad is still on the hunt for its first win of the season after a challenging transition to FBS play.
Can the Flames stay on track for the CUSA Championship Game? Will the Owls turn things around and secure a win (or at least keep it competitive)? Who has the upper hand, and where will the crucial matchups take place?
While Liberty hasn’t been as dominant this season as in the past, they’re still poised for a convincing win on Wednesday night. Their defense may not be forcing as many turnovers, but they’re allowing just 21.2 points per game and rank as the top scoring unit in CUSA, landing in the top 50 nationally. TJ Bush has been a standout on the edge, and good luck throwing at Dexter Ricks Jr.
That’s not a strategy Kennesaw State is likely to employ, averaging only 23.4 pass attempts per game. They rely heavily on the ground game, led by quarterback Davis Bryson and running backs Qua Ashley, Michael Benefield, and Preston Daniels. Liberty has been tough against the run, allowing just nine rushing touchdowns and 3.27 yards per carry (second in CUSA), giving the Flames a distinct advantage.
Kennesaw State has managed only 13 points per game this season, and while they scored 24 against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, they struggled to put up just five points against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. That won’t cut it if they want to keep pace with the Kaidon Salter-led Liberty offense.
Despite averaging nearly a touchdown less per game than last year, Chadwell’s innovative offense should be too much for the Owls’ defense to handle.
Kennesaw State surrendered over 300 yards and eight rushing touchdowns in their loss to the Gamecocks, and with a powerful duo like Quinton Cooley and Billy Lucas, the Flames should have a smooth path to victory.
Prediction: Liberty 33, Kennesaw State 13
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