Liberty is a 36 point favorite as it hosts UMass at home this weekend in Lynchburg, Virginia. As a fellow FBS Independnet, the Minutemen are 1-6 on the season with a win against UConn two weeks ago 27-13, but UMass is coming off a 56-3 loss at Florida State last week. UMass has struggled the last few seasons, going 1-11 in 2019, 0-4 in a shortened season last year, and again 1-6 thus far in 2021.
Head Coach Walt Bell is 2-21 in three seasons in Amherst, but he seems to have the Minutemen playing better this season. They scored 28 points against both Boston College and Eastern Michigan earlier this year, as well as 27 points in their win over the Huskies. The offense has been inconsistent under Bell, the former offesive coordinator at Akansas State, Maryland and Florida State. Outside of those three games mentioned where the offense scored 27 or 28 points, UMass has combined to score 20 points in the other four games without scoring over 7 points in any one of those contests.
Key Players:
QB Brady Olson – 958 yards passing
RB Ellis Merriweather – 416 yards rushing
WR Rice Arnold – 255 yards receiving
LB Da’Shon Ross – 58 tackles
CB Bryce Watts – 1 interception
