Virginia Football: Cavaliers prepare for intra-state matchup with Liberty
By Jacob Wilson
After five straight games of ACC play, Virginia football looks to keep the ball rolling against intra-state opponent Liberty.
Virginia and Liberty are coming off of two very different stretches. The Cavaliers, who dropped three of four a couple of weeks ago, have rebounded nicely with back to back wins over North Carolina and Georgia Tech. Liberty, on the other hand, will head into this contest with a 1-2 record in their last three games following five straight wins.
A win here would be monumental for a Liberty team that likely would’ve been north of three touchdown underdogs against Virginia years ago, but have put together a nice year for themselves in their first season under head coach Hugh Freeze.
On the other end, Virginia will be looking to treat this game as they would any other. Liberty’s offense could provide some fireworks, so here’s how to tune in if you get the chance this weekend.
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Charlottesville, Va.
Venue: Harrison III Field at Scott Stadium
TV: ACC Network
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Keys to Victory
As mentioned, this game is important for both teams, albeit in different ways. Despite the results, Virginia has ceded a decent amount of points in their last two games, something Liberty will have to try and exploit if they hope to stand a chance in this one. Liberty’s offense is currently averaging 32.8 points per game on the year, so there’s hope to be had in that department.
As for the Cavaliers, it should be relatively easy sledding against a Liberty defense that is currently allowing 425 total yards per game. Virginia can attack Liberty’s defense in multiple ways, but there are more yards to be gained on the ground considering the Flames are allowing opposing running backs to average 4.7 yards per carry.
Betting Odds
Odds provided by Bovada
Point Spread: Virginia -16.5
Over/Under: 56
Prediction
With the season winding down, the last thing Virginia needs to do is put itself in the conversation of the third best team in Virginia. Defeating Liberty would put an end to those claims, at least for a while. Considering Liberty’s struggles on defense, Virginia should be able to do just that while claiming their eighth win of the season.
Final Score: Liberty 23, Virginia 34