Upcoming Liberty will be a strong challenge for a rebuilding UMass. The Flames are 4-1 with a one-point loss to Power Five Wake Forest. Liberty is currently ranked #66 by College Football News. The Flames are also #66 in total offense and #28 in the nation in rushing offense. They average 29 points a game and give up 22.8.
The Flames play a national schedule. Besides Wake Forest, Liberty will play BYU, Arkansas and Virginia Tech this year.
They are not quite the offensive juggernaut they were with Malik Willis off to the NFL.
Kaidron Salter makes the Flames go. He's a mobile QB with 137 pass efficiency rating. He's been dealing with a groin injury and may not start Saturday.
Liberty is also ranked #16 in the nation in Red Zone defense.
I think the UMass defense will play well Saturday, but it might not show in the score and the statistics. The Minutemen would have to have a season-high scoring total to make it look respectable. I think the Flames will cover the 25 point spread.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Liberty site "A Sea of Red" has a Q&A with Mike Traini.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Bleacher Report writer predicts Liberty 35 UMass 3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Virginia New & Advance reports on the status of Liberty, which includes a possible start for Johnathan Bennett at QB.
Coach Freeze's weekly press conference is available here.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
