The 2013 football schedule was officially released yesterday with 12 games and 7 home dates. A quick breakdown of the schedule:
 |
| Aldreakis Allen looks to lead LU to the playoffs in 2013 |
Definite Wins
9/28 vs Kentucky Wesleyan
11/16 vs Brevard
Liberty faces 2 Division 2 teams with a combined 4-18 record from 2012. The Flames are 2-0 against Kentucky Wesleyan all-time, and have never faced Brevard. Book these as 2 wins.
Should-be Wins
9/7 vs Monmouth
This will be the first meeting between the future Big South football rivals. Monmouth is coming off a 5-5 season and 4-3 mark in the NEC. The Flames should win in their home season opener.
9/14 vs Morgan State
Liberty is 2-1 all-time against Morgan State with the last meeting coming in 1996. The Bears finished 3-8 in 2012 and 2-6 in the MEAC. The Flames should improve their record to 2-1.
10/26 @ Gardner-Webb
Gardner-Webb will have a new coach in 2013 as Carroll McCray takes over at his Alma Mater. McCray inherits a Runnin’ Bulldog team that went just 3-8 overall and 2-4 in conference play a season ago. Liberty leads the all-time series 10-8-1 and has won 6 in a row including last season’s 42-35 come from behind victory.
11/2 vs VMI
The Keydets are coming off a 2-9 overall and 1-5 conference season in 2012 including a 33-14 loss to Liberty in the season finale. The Flames lead the overall series 9-3 including 7 consecutive wins.
11/9 vs Presby
The Blue Hose trail Liberty 6-4 in the all-time series as the Flames have won 4 in a row including a 56-7 thrashing last season.
11/23 @ Charleston Southern
The Flames have dominated the all-time series 18-2 including 7 victories in a row. Liberty was able to hold off the pesky Buccaneers 26-12 last season where CSU finished 5-6 overall and 3-3 in conference play. Charleston Southern will have a new coach in Jamey Chadwell roaming the sidelines in 2013.
Toss-ups
9/21 @Richmond
 |
| Richmond & former Liberty head coach Danny Rocco |
I’m sure both sides will have this one earmarked as the Flames head down 460 to take on in-state rival Richmond and former head coach Danny Rocco. Rocco’s Spiders were 8-3 and 6-2 in the CAA last season, but Danny still couldn’t get over the playoff hump. Surprisingly, the 2 schools have never met on the gridiron.
10/19 vs Coastal
Liberty’s 18 consecutive home conference win streak will be tested against the Chanticleers. Coastal head coach Joe Moglia’s Chants are coming off an 8-5 record last season. The Chanticleers won the 3-way tiebreaker between Stony Brook & Liberty, again, to advance to the FCS playoffs. In the playoffs, Coastal defeated Bethune-Cookman before falling to Old Dominion 63-35. The all-time series is knotted at 5 games a piece after Coastal handled Liberty 36-12 in 2012.
Underdog
8/29 @ Kent State
The Golden Flashes will be the Flames season opener on a Thursday night. Kent State went 11-3 last season including a perfect 8-0 mark in the MAC. Kent State lost to Arkansas State in the Godaddy.com Bowl. Liberty is 0-1 all-time against Kent State with the only previous meeting coming in 2004 when the Flames lost 38-10. This game will be difficult, but Liberty has proven they can compete with FBS teams.
10/5 @ Old Dominion
In the first ever meeting between the 2 schools, Liberty will take on the soon-to-be Conference USA member. ODU is coming off an 11-2 season in 2012 where they fell to Georgia Southern in the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
Analysis
The Flames should finish 9-3 or 10-2 with this schedule, anything less would be a disappointment, but the most important thing is having a 5-0 mark in Big South play and the automatic bid to the playoffs.
Just curious….do you have any idea how much LU pays smaller schools like Kentucky Wesleyan and Brevard to come and play us in a home game?
On average FCS schools pay D2 schools around $20K for 1 game
A little homering here but I can’t say it’s bad. Everyone likes to be optimistic. Two toss up games and two underdog games and the final record is only 9-3 or 10-2. Liberty has consistently lost games they should win so I’d chalk up another loss or two and say 7-5 or 8-4 and tied for the Big South title and on the outside of playoffs yet again. I hope I’m wrong but you can call me a negative Nancy.
9-2, with one upset over either Kent State, Richmond or ODU. A good showing in the playoffs!
TS
Can’t be 9-2 — you’r leaving out a game!
I’d like to see us beat Richmond — I think that’s the closest upset we can count on. We’d BETTER beat Coastal at Homecoming.
That’s right 12 games this season, 7 home. Correction 10-2. I’m hoping the upset is ODU! I think we can win the Richmond game in a close one. 9-3 and trip to the playoffs would okay also.