Liberty Flames vs. Jacksonville State Gamecocks Picks & Preview | NCAAFB Week 7

Star quarterback Kaidon Salter and the Liberty Flames (5-0) face the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (5-1) on Tuesday at 7:30 PM ET at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium.

The Gamecocks are underdogs, but by less than a touchdown (+6), versus the Flames (with an over/under of 56 points).

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Game Info for Liberty vs. Jacksonville State

• Game Day: Tuesday, October 10, 2023
• Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
• TV Channel: ESPNU
• Location: Jacksonville, Alabama
• Stadium: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium

Liberty Pick Insights

• Liberty’s ATS record is 4-0-0 this season.
• When it has played as at least 6-point favorites this season, Liberty is 3-0 against the spread.
• Two of Liberty’s four games with a set total have hit the over (50%).

Liberty Stats & Insights

• Liberty has been surging on both sides of the ball, ranking 10th-best in total offense (490.4 yards per game) and 22nd-best in total defense (314 yards allowed per game).
• Liberty has been finding success on both sides of the ball, ranking 22nd-best in scoring offense (36.2 points per game) and 24th-best in scoring defense (18 points allowed per game).
• Liberty is putting up 235.2 passing yards per game on offense this season (69th in the FBS), and is allowing 196.8 passing yards per game (35th) on defense.
• Liberty ranks 41st in run defense this season (117.2 rushing yards allowed per game), but has been thriving on the offensive side of the ball, ranking second-best in the FBS with 255.2 rushing yards per game.
• Liberty has been a difficult matchup for opposing teams on third down, ranking top-25 in both third-down offense (18th-best with a 49.2% third-down percentage) and third-down defense (18th-best with a 30.3% third-down conversion rate allowed) this season.
• With 13 forced turnovers (seventh in the FBS) against six turnovers committed (38th in the FBS), Liberty’s +7 turnover margin is the fifth-best in college football.

Liberty’s Best Players

• Salter has been a dual threat for Liberty so far this season. He has 1,176 passing yards, completing 57.7% of his passes and collecting 12 touchdown passes and two interceptions this season. He’s rushed for 306 yards (61.2 ypg) on 59 carries with six rushing touchdowns.
• Quinton Cooley has racked up 429 yards on 70 carries while finding paydirt one time as a runner.
• CJ Daniels’ team-high 420 yards as a receiver have come on 16 receptions (out of 28 targets) with three touchdowns.
• Treon Sibley has caught 13 passes while averaging 64 yards per game and scoring two touchdowns.
• Elijah Smoot has been the target of 17 passes and racked up seven catches for 145 yards, an average of 29 yards per contest. He’s found the end zone two times through the air this season.
• CJ Bazile Jr. has 2.5 sacks to pace the team, and also has three TFL and nine tackles.
• Liberty’s top-tackler, Tyren Dupree, has 33 tackles, two TFL, one sack, and two interceptions this year.
• Brylan Green has picked off a team-leading three passes. He also has 14 tackles, one TFL, one sack, and three passes defended to his name.

Jacksonville State Betting Insights

• Jacksonville State is 3-1-0 against the spread this season.
• Jacksonville State has not yet covered the spread as underdogs of 6 points or more this year (0-1).
• One of Jacksonville State’s four games with a set total has hit the over (25%).

Jacksonville State Pick Insights

• From an offensive perspective, Jacksonville State is generating 369 total yards per game (84th-ranked). It ranks 51st in the FBS on defense (352.8 total yards given up per game).
• Jacksonville State’s defense has been leading the charge for the team, as it ranks 21st-best in the FBS with 17.5 points surrendered per contest. In terms of offense, it is putting up 30.5 points per game, which ranks 64th.
• Jacksonville State’s passing game has been sputtering, ranking 11th-worst in the FBS with 154.3 passing yards per game. It has been more effective defensively, surrendering 240.2 passing yards per contest (86th-ranked).
• Jacksonville State’s rushing attack has been leading the way for the team, as it ranks 13th-best in the FBS with 214.7 rushing yards per game. In terms of defense, it is giving up 112.7 rushing yards per game, which ranks 31st.
• Jacksonville State ranks 97th in the FBS with a 36% third-down conversion rate, but it has been led by its defense, which ranks 12th-best by surrendering a 28.4% third-down rate.
• Jacksonville State has fared really well in terms of turnovers, as the team’s turnover margin of +10 ranks third-best in the FBS, with 15 forced turnovers (second in the nation) and five turnovers committed (16th in the nation).

Jacksonville State’s Best Players

• Logan Smothers has thrown for 523 yards (87.2 ypg) to lead Jacksonville State, completing 59.5% of his passes and collecting five touchdown passes and one interception this season. He is also a playmaker on the ground, racking up 240 yards (40 ypg) on 57 carries with five touchdowns.
• Malik Jackson is his team’s leading rusher with 98 carries for 559 yards, or 93.2 per game. He’s found paydirt four times on the ground, as well.
• Perry Carter Jr. has totaled 13 receptions this season and his team-high yardage total sits at 242 (40.3 yards per game). He’s been targeted 27 times and has two touchdowns.
• Quinton Lane has caught 13 passes and compiled 156 receiving yards (26 per game) with one touchdown.
• Sean Brown’s 19 targets have resulted in 11 receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns.
• Chris Hardie has 3.5 sacks to lead the team, and also has five TFL, 22 tackles, and one interception.
• Quae Drake is the team’s tackle leader this year. He’s picked up 29 tackles, one TFL, and one interception.
• Kekoura Tarnue leads the team with two interceptions, while also putting up 16 tackles, one TFL, one sack, and two passes defended.