The Liberty Flames (3-0) and Syracuse Orange (2-1) meet Friday at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Liberty vs. Syracuse odds and lines, and make our expert college football picks, predictions and bets.
The Flames are not only unbeaten in three outings, but they covered the spread in all three games, too. That includes a 45-17 thumping of Old Dominion this past Saturday. Liberty edged Troy 21-13 Sept. 11 in a win in its only road game to date.
The Orange are flying high after a 62-24 win over FCS Albany last time out, bouncing back after a 17-7 loss to Rutgers. It was the first Over result in three tries for Syracuse.
Liberty at Syracuse odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:15 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Liberty -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Syracuse +200 (bet $100 to win $200)
- Against the spread (ATS): Liberty -6.5 (-112) | Syracuse +6.5 (-108)
- Over/Under (O/U): 54.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Liberty at Syracuse odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Liberty 31, Syracuse 23
Money line
Liberty (-250) will cost you two and a half times your potential return, and that’s just a little too steep for a road team against a Power 5 team.
The Flames are on the cusp of the Top 25 in the AFCA Coaches Poll, powered by USA TODAY Sports, and they have put up 38.0 points per game in three outings. They have rolled up 433.7 total yards per game to rank 43rd in the nation.
The defense for the Flames is strong, allowing just 234.0 total yards per game and 12.3 PPG. They won and covered against Syracuse in the Carrier Dome last season, taking it 38-21, and they’ll do it again Friday.
However, AVOID, and play the spread instead for a better value.
Against the spread
LIBERTY -6.5 (-112) is worth a play on the road, as they won by 17 points in this building last season.
The Flames cashed in each of their last eight games as favorites, and they’re 5-0 ATS in their last five tries against teams with a winning record.
The Orange, on the other hand, haven’t had a lot of success stringing things together. Syracuse is 0-6 ATS in its last six games following a straight-up win.
Over/Under
OVER 54.5 (-110) is the play, but play it lightly. Liberty gets a lot of headlines for the offense, but the defense is a bit on the underrated side.
The Syracuse offense showed out last week, but that was against an FCS opponent. With a short week to prepare for a team on the brink of a ranking, the Orange offense is sure to take a step backward.
Still, we should get enough points to see the Over inch across the finish line thanks to Liberty’s offense.
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