Liberty vs Eastern Michigan: LendingTree Bowl prediction, game preview, how to watch, lines: Saturday, December 18
Liberty vs Eastern Michigan: LendingTree Bowl How To Watch
Date: Saturday, December 18
Game Time: 5:45 pm ET
Venue: Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, AL
How To Watch: ESPN, Live stream on ESPN+
Records: Eastern Michigan (7-5), Liberty (7-5)
Liberty vs Eastern Michigan LendingTree Bowl Preview
– Both teams will be looking to get past rough finishes to end with something positive.
It was a massively disappointing season for a Liberty program that ripped through several ACC teams in 2020 before closing out with a victory over an unbeaten Coastal Carolina.
The 2021 version came into the year full of experience led by dynamic quarterback Malik Willis and a great running game, and it all fell flat as the season wore on.
– It was a good team, but there were too many turnovers, too much inconsistency, and way too many penalties. The Flames lost their last three games by a combined score of 100-44, but the losses came against Ole Miss, Louisiana, and Army – three of the better teams on the slate.
– Eastern Michigan couldn’t run, couldn’t stop the run, and like Liberty, was wildly inconsistent including losses in two of the last three games. However, unlike the Flames, there aren’t any flags – it was No. 1 in the nation in fewest penalties – and the team didn’t beat itself.
The offense had its moments and the passing game is okay, but there’s a big problem when the ground attack doesn’t work.
Why Liberty, Eastern Michigan Will Win
Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History
LendingTree Bowl Top Players To Know
NEXT: Why Liberty Will Win, Why Eastern Michigan Will Win, LendingTree Bowl Prediction
Why Eastern Michigan Will Win The LendingTree Bowl
Liberty has been a turnover machine over the second half of the season.
It wasn’t bad over the first five games, and then the interceptions were flowing, the fumbles were there in a loss to Louisiana, and the season ended with 11 turnovers in the last three games – all losses – and 18 in the last eight games. Eastern Michigan doesn’t force a ton of takeaways, but it’s 5-0 when coming up with two or more.
It’s more than that, though, when it comes to the Eagles and Flames.
Liberty has a big penalty problem to go along with the turnovers. It’s among the worst teams in college football in penalties and yards after getting flagged, and Eastern Michigan is No. 1 in the nation in fewest penalties.
Eastern Michigan has to get its good passing game going, the pass rush has to get through the leaky Liberty O line, and …
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Malik Willis. Which one will show up?
A strong pro prospect with all the skills, he’s been way too erratic over the final kick. The accuracy hasn’t been there and the interceptions have been been a problem, but when he’s on – with his legs as well as his arm – he can take over games.
He’s not alone. There are strong parts in the backfield to get the ground attack going, and everything should work just fine against an Eastern Michigan run defense that doesn’t get into the backfield and gives up yards in chunks.
The fewer throws from Willis – even with his NFL talent – the better.
Eastern Michigan can throw the ball, but there’s not a whole lot happening down the field, and now it has to deal with a strong Liberty secondary that gives up just 174 passing yards per game.
Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History
NEXT: What’s Going To Happen, Liberty vs Eastern Michigan Prediction, LendingTree Bowl History
Liberty vs Eastern Michigan: LendingTree Bowl, What’s Going To Happen
With the exception of the strange turnover-filled loss to ULM, Liberty rolls the okay-to-mediocre and loses to the good.
Eastern Michigan is fine.
It’s a solid Eagle team that plays hard and stays in games – it’ll show up in this – but if the Liberty parts come together and the mistakes slow down for 60 minutes, Hugh Freeze’s team will have this. Willis and the Liberty skill parts are too good.
Eastern Michigan is 1-4 all-time in bowl games – the 1987 victory over San Jose State in the California Bowl. Liberty in its two bowl games under Freeze? 2-for-2.
LendingTree Bowl: Liberty vs Eastern Michigan Prediction, Lines
Liberty 34, Eastern Michigan 26
Line: Liberty -9, o/u: 58.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
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LendingTree Bowl History
Dec. 26, 2020 Georgia State 39, WKU 21
Jan. 6, 2020 Louisiana 27, Miami University 17
Dollar General Bowl
Dec. 22, 2018 Troy 42, Buffalo 32
Dec. 23, 2017 Appalachian State 34, Toledo 0
Dec. 23, 2016 Troy 28, Ohio 23
GoDaddy Bowl
Dec. 23, 2015 Georgia Southern 58 Bowling Green 27
Jan. 4, 2015 Toledo 63 Arkansas State 44
Jan. 5, 2014 Arkansas State 23 Ball State 20
Jan. 6, 2013 Arkansas State 17 Kent State 13
Jan. 8, 2012 Northern Illinois 38 Arkansas State 20
Jan. 6, 2011 Miami Univ. 35 Middle Tennessee 21
GMAC Bowl
Jan. 6, 2010 Central Michigan 44 Troy 41 (2 OT)
Jan. 6, 2009 Tulsa 45 Ball State 13
Jan. 6, 2008 Tulsa 63 Bowling Green 7
Jan. 7, 2007 Southern Miss 28 Ohio 7
Dec. 21, 2005 Toledo 45 UTEP 13
Dec. 22, 2004 Bowling Green 52 Memphis 35
Dec. 18, 2003 Miami Univ. 49 Louisville 28
Dec. 18, 2002 Marshall 38 Louisville 15
12, 19, 2001 Marshall 64 East Carolina 61 (2 OT)
Mobile Alabama Bowl
12, 20, 2000 Southern Miss 28 TCU 21
Dec. 22, 1999 TCU 28 East Carolina 14
Liberty vs Eastern Michigan Preview
Why Liberty, Eastern Michigan Will Win
Prediction, What’s Going To Happen, History
LendingTree Bowl Top Players To Know
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