After Liberty’s 2023 season where the Flames went undefeated during the regular season, won the Conference USA Championship, and appeared in a New Year’s Six bowl, expectations were high going into 2024.
Maybe too high. Liberty did win its first five games, but then the Flames lost at Kennesaw State, a first-year FBS program. The complexion of the season completely changed from that point on.
And it only got worse when Liberty lost to Jacksonville State a week later.
The Flames did end up going 8-4 overall last year with a loss against Buffalo in the Bahamas Bowl. It’s a new season now, though. And Liberty goes into 2025 as the favorite to take back the CUSA crown.
But first, the Flames will start the year against an FCS opponent.
Maine vs. Liberty Betting Odds
Liberty is a -25.5 college football betting odds favorite against Maine, with the Over/Under being 51.5.
The moneyline for Maine is +1500, while it’s -5000 for Liberty.
Maine vs. Liberty On TV
The matchup between Maine and Liberty will be televised on ESPN+.
The game will kick off at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 30. The contest is taking place at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Maine vs. Liberty Prediction
I predict Liberty will win and cover the 25.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 51.5 points.
I’m thinking that Ethan Vasko is going to put the Flames in a position to succeed this year. Vasko transferred to Liberty after a solid season with Coastal Carolina. In 2024, he threw for 2,120 yards, 14 touchdowns, and eight interceptions on a 54.6% completion rate while rushing for 447 yards and five scores.
Liberty is pretty experienced at wide receiver, too. Elijah Canion (25 catches, 354 receiving yards, and three touchdowns in 2024), Reese Smith (18 catches, 277 yards, and four touchdowns), Tyson Mobley (29 catches, 276 yards, and a TD), and Donte Lee Jr. (10 catches, 148 yards, and a TD) are all returning.
Aaron Fenimore is among Liberty’s returners on the offensive line after making the All-CUSA first team in 2024. Jack Tucker is also back after starting all of Liberty’s 12 games last season, mostly at left tackle. Harrison Hayes and DJ Geth, who both started multiple games at right guard in 2024, are back as well.
But I really think Liberty is going to thrive on defense this season. After ranking third in CUSA in total defense (351.9 yards per game allowed) and scoring defense (23.5 points per game allowed), Liberty should be strong on that side of the ball again with four all-conference performers returning.
Second-team All-CUSA linebacker Joseph Carter is back after leading Liberty with 88 tackles to go with five tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and three pass breakups. All-CUSA honorable mention defensive lineman CJ Bazile Jr. is also back after recording 54 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, two sacks, and a forced fumble.
A’Khori Jones, an All-CUSA honorable mention defensive back in 2024, is back after recording 53 tackles, five for loss, with three pass breakups and a forced fumble. Brylan Green is returning as well after making the All-CUSA second team as a defensive back and earning honorable mention accolades as a punt returner. He totaled 32 tackles and two pass breakups while returning nine punts for 122 yards.
This Liberty roster is loaded, and I think the Flames will have little issue in this contest.
