Fiesta Bowl Preview: Liberty offense will present some unique looks for Oregon

Liberty’s offense will present some unique challenges for the Oregon defense in the Fiesta Bowl.

If this were eight or nine years ago, the Liberty offense wouldn’t be so unique. But the Flames like to run a pass-option offense with a very mobile quarterback that could present some challenges for the Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday.

It all starts with Kaidon Salter, who is as dangerous with his legs as his arm. At 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, he might remind some Duck fans of a slightly taller Jeremiah Masoli.

Liberty averages 40 points a game and are a perfect 13-0. Salter is responsible for 43 touchdowns; 31 passing and 12 rushing. He’s one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country and they like to run the option out of multiple sets.

Tailback Quinton Cooley, a transfer from Wake Forest, leads the Flames with 1,322 yards rushing (102 ypg) and 16 touchdowns. Fellow running back, Billy Lucas averages over 50 yards a game and has found the end zone six times this season.

When the Flames throw the ball, Salter usually goes to receiver CJ Daniels, a 6-2, 200-pounder who averages 21 yards per catch. He leads the team with 47 receptions for 988 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Fellow receiver Treon Sibley also averages over 20 yards a catch. He has scored four touchdowns.

Liberty’s offensive line is led by 6-4, 320-pound X’Zauvea Gadlin. He is a First-Team All-Conference player. He’s joined by All-C-USA Second Teamers Jonathan Graham (6-5, 330) and Jordan White (6-2, 295).

Lineman Xavier Grey (6-8, 335) was named as an Honorable Mention.

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5 Liberty players that Oregon needs to pay attention to in the Fiesta Bowl

Liberty shouldn’t be taken lightly and here are five Flames the Ducks need to put out in the Fiesta Bowl.

Mobile quarterbacks have given Oregon some trouble this season and the Ducks might be facing one of the top dual-threat signal callers in the nation. While he might be as a prolific passer as Michael Penix, Jr. or as elusive as Cameron Ward, Liberty’s Kaidon Salter combines the talent of those previous two quarterbacks that could be tough on opposing defenses.

Something else that makes Salter dangerous is that if you focus solely on him, he can give the ball to a pretty decent tailback in Quincey Cooley, a 1,000-yard rusher and a former Wake Forest performer.

Liberty has a good receiver in CJ Daniels as well as an underrated defense led by linebacker Tyren Dupree and defensive end CJ Bazile, Jr.

In short, although the opponents were Pac-12 caliber, the Flames are still 13-0 and can’t be taken lightly when the Ducks play them in the Fiesta.

We dig a little deeper into those five Flames previously mentioned.

Alabama-Birmingham at Florida Atlantic odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s UAB Blazers FAU Owls college football matchup, with college football betting odds, picks and best bets

The Alabama-Birmingham Blazers (9-3, 6-2 C-USA West) and Florida Atlantic Owls (9-3, 7-1 C-USA East) battle for the Conference USA Championship in Boca Raton, Fla. at 1:30 p.m. ET. We analyze the UAB-FAU odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

UAB at FAU: Three things you need to know

1. Saturday’s game is expected to be the final one for Lane Kiffin as the head coach of FAU, as he is expected to be named as Matt Luke’s replacement at Mississippi.

2. The Owls are tied for 27th in the nation with 34.1 points per game, and they have scored 34 or more points in each of the past five outings.

3. FAU went 8-4 against the spread this season, including 3-1 straight up across the past four at FAU Stadium. UAB enters on a three-game winning streak, but is just 2-3 ATS across the past five overall and 2-3 ATS in its past five road outings.


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UAB at FAU: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Saturday at 2:30 a.m. ET.

Prediction

FAU 29, UAB 20

Moneyline (ML)

FAU (-334) is an overwhelming favorite in what is expected to be the Lane Train’s final stop in Boca Raton. Will there be a lack of focus for the Owls, or will they claim their second C-USA trophy in the past three seasons under Kiffin’s tutelage? That’s the big question. They have steamrolled their C-USA brethren all season, and UAB (+260) isn’t expected to offer much resistance.

New to sports betting? Every $10 wagered on an outright win for FAU would return a profit of $3.

Against the Spread (ATS)

FLORIDA ATLANTIC (-8.5, -115) will look to send Kiffin away, if he in fact does accept the Ole Miss job officially, with a victory and a cover. It will be interesting to see if UAB (+8.5, -106) can slow down NFL prospect TE Harrison Bryant and QB Chris Robison in the pass game.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER 49.5 (-110) might be the best option on Saturday’s early board among the championship games. While FAU has a high-powered offense, the under is 8-1 in its past nine games at home. The under is also 4-1 in UAB’s past five overall, 7-2 in the past nine as a road underdog, and 4-0-1 in the past five away from home. While the over has hit in each of the past six meetings, they haven’t played since 2014, so that trend can mostly be ignored.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Louisiana Tech at Marshall odds: Herd favored in key C-USA game

Previewing Friday’s Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Marshall Thundering Herd college football matchup, with NCAA football betting odds, picks and best bets

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (8-1, 5-0 Conference USA West) visit the Marshall Thundering Herd (6-3, 4-1 C-USA East) Friday night in Huntington, W. Va., at 7 p.m. ET.

We analyze the Louisiana Tech-Marshall odds and betting lines, while providing college football betting tips and advice on this matchup.

Louisiana Tech at Marshall: Three things you need to know

1. While this is a cross-divisional matchup in C-USA, it’s a key game. The Bulldogs hold a slim one-game lead on Southern Miss in the West Division, while Marshall is a half-game back of Florida Atlantic in the East.

2. The Bulldogs rank 18th in the nation in total yards (479.1), 23rd in passing yards (292.1) and 13th in points scored (38.1).

3. Marshall ranks 50th in the country with 426.0 total yards per game, and 50th defensively with 371.1 total yards allowed.


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Louisiana Tech at Marshall: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 10:50 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Louisiana Tech 30, Marshall 24

Moneyline (ML)

LOUISIANA TECH (+170) is a rather moderate underdog on the road despite an 8-1 SU record. Marshall (-209) is favored at home, but is a little short-handed with WRs Obi Obialo (foot) out indefinitely and WR Artie Henry (undisclosed) done for the season.

New to sports betting? A $10 wager on Louisiana Tech returns a profit of $17 if the Bulldogs prevail.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Take LOUISIANA TECH (+3.5, +105) catching the points. The Bulldogs are 4-0 ATS in the past four, 4-1 ATS in the past five C-USA battles and 6-2 ATS in the previous eight games against teams with a winning record. La. Tech is also 10-4 ATS in the past 14 on the road.

On the flip side, Marshall (-3.5, -125) is just 2-12 ATS in the past 14 games at home and 2-5 ATS in the past seven conference tilts. It’s also just 2-5 ATS in the past seven overall and 1-4 ATS in the previous five coming off a bye week.

Over/Under (O/U)

The UNDER (56.5, -115) is the play. The under has cashed in seven of the past nine road games for Louisiana Tech, while going 10-4 in the past 14 conference battles. The trends points to the over for Marshall, but injury woes in the pass game will force the Thundering Herd to try and run a lot more. Usually, ground-based attacks equal under results.

Get some action on this game or others, place a bet with BetMGM today. And for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @JoeWilliamsVI and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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