The two Tuesday CUSA games totaled just 41 points combined, but don’t let that deter you from more midweek action on Wednesday when the Liberty Flames take on the Kennesaw State Owls looking to maintain their undefeated start to the season.
Our Liberty vs. Kennesaw State prediction breaks down everything you need to know, including the latest betting odds and each team’s chances of success for the remainder 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 -26 - Moneyline
Liberty -3600, Kennesaw State +1500 - Over/Under
46.5 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.
Here are the win probabilities for Liberty’s remaining 2024 schedule:
- 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.
Here are the remaining win probabilities for the Owls’ 2024 season:
- 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 looks to keep their place amongst just 10 remaining undefeated college football teams in Week 9, while Brian Bohannon’s Kennesaw State team is still searching for their first win of the year following a difficult transition to life in the FBS.
Can the Flames keep on course for the CUSA Championship Game? Can the Owls overcome their tawdry start to the 2024 season and clinch a win (or keep it competitive, at least)? Who’s got the edge, and where will the key battles unfold?
Liberty hasn’t been as dominant this season compared to last, but that shouldn’t stop them from putting together a convincing win on Wednesday night. While the defense hasn’t been as strong in forcing turnovers as last year, they’re allowing just 21.2 points per game as the leading scoring unit in CUSA and a top-50 unit nationally. TJ Bush has been a force off the edge, while try throwing on Dexter Ricks Jr. if you dare.
That’s something that Kennesaw State isn’t likely to do, with an average of just 23.4 pass attempts per game. They’re a run-heavy team behind quarterback Davis Bryson and running back trio Qua Ashley, Michael Benefield, and Preston Daniels. Liberty has allowed just nine rushing touchdowns and 3.27 yards per carry (second in the CUSA), so the advantage is with the Flames.
Kennesaw State has scored just 13 points per game this season, and although they put up 24 against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks, they’re coming off a game against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders where they could only muster five points. That just won’t cut the mustard when trying to keep up with the Kaidon Salter-led Liberty offense.
Although they’re averaging almost a touchdown less per game than a year ago, Chadwell’s innovative offense should prove too powerful for the Owls defense to thwart. Kennesaw State gave up over 300 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground in their defeat to the Gamecocks, and with a double-headed monster of Quinton Cooley and Billy Lucas, it should be easy sailing for the Flames.
Prediction: Liberty 33, Kennesaw State 13
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