One of the best non New Years 6 bowls this year takes place in sunny Orlando, Florida: The Cure Bowl. It brings together Liberty (9-1) and #12 Coastal Carolina (11-0). Not to mention, this is the bowl for team mascots, Liberty being the Flames and Coastal Carolina being the Chanticleers. This is the first-ever bowl appearance for the Chants and the second for Liberty. Originally a scheduled matchup for the regular season, Liberty’s COVID issues forced cancellation. The Chants instead delivered a fatal blow to BYU’s already slim College Football Playoff hopes.
How They Got Here: Liberty
To say that Liberty is a good team is an understatement. The Flames have been flying high this entire season, winning their first eight games. Two of those wins came against power-five opponents in Syracuse and Virginia Tech. They then lost to #23 NC State, a game in which they only lost by one point. Liberty’s a confident bunch led by Hugh Freeze, and if you ask me, the Flames are a top 25 team. However, the committee horrendously undervalues G5 schools.
Liberty’s calling card is undoubtedly their offense. They rank 15th in yards per game with 483.5 and they do that with a balanced attack. They average 252.1 yards on the ground and 231.4 yards through the air. The Flames also know how to put points on the board. They average 38.3 points per, hitting the 30 mark in all but two of their games. They also scored 40+ four times, with two 50 burgers. Their rushing attack is lead by one of the most dynamic attacks in the country. QB Malik Willis and running backs Joshua Mack and Peytton Pickett each have at least five hundred yards on the ground. Mack’s 692 rush yards put him second on the team behind Willis. Willis’ total offensive production is 2,847 yards and 30 TDs, making him the X-factor for the Flames.
While their offense is potent and poised for attack, their defense is pretty good too. They boast the 7th ranked defense in terms of yards per game and are top ten in terms of pass defense. Liberty only gives up 19.2 points per game as well. They have six games giving up 15 or fewer points this season. Above all else, their third down defense is nothing short of suffocating.
How They Got Here: Coastal Carolina
The #12 team in the country and the second most disrespected team behind Cinncinati. But it’s not the college football world providing the disrespect, rather the College Football Playoff Committee. The Chants got here by winning every single game they’ve played this season. They did that with their Mullets and a huge chip on their shoulder. Their marquee wins came against the Ragin Cajuns back in October and BYU in one of the most hyped games of the year.
Their offense is one of the most balanced in the country. They’ve rushed for 223 yards and passed for 223 yards per game this year. That’s good enough to rank them 26th in total yards per game. The Chants also score at a great rate with 37.5 points per game. QB Grayson McCall leads the huddle, throwing for 2,170 yards and 23 TD while rushing for 473 yards and another six scores. Their workhorse at running back is Torrance Marable. Comparable to a freight train, Marable’s responsible for 844 yards and 12 TDs on the ground, contributing 220 yards and seven TDs receiving. But McCall’s favorite target is Jaivon Heiligh, amassing 820 receiving yards and ten TDs on 52 receptions through the 2020 campaign.
The Coastal defense is on par with its offense ranking 27th in yards against per game. They’re good against both the run and the pass and forced BYU QB Zach Wilson to play his worst game of the year, holding a BYU offense that averages 44 points per game to just 14. They only give up an average of 18.7 points per game. The biggest difference when you compare them to other teams is their +11 turnover differential. They are great at taking the ball away and even better at holding onto it.
Betting and Predictions
Our friends over a BUSR Sportsbook have Coastal Carolina as a 7 point favorite over Liberty. I like Coastal Carolina to win outright, but Liberty is just too good not to make it a close one. The Flames will cover those seven points. BUSR Sportsbook has the over/under at 59.5. This is a tough one to bet. If I were you, I would stay away from this one because we just don’t know what type of game this will be. Is it going to be a shootout full of high octane offense or will it be a slugfest with time of possession being the key? If I had to pick, I’m leaning towards the over. I think both defenses play well enough to slow down the offenses not stop them. McCall and Wilson are going to duel it out, but I think the Chants just have better weapons.