Buffalo Bulls vs. Liberty Flames 1/4/25 – The upcoming matchup between Buffalo Bulls(8-4) and Liberty Flames (8-3) in the Bahamas Bowl promises to be an exciting affair. Both the teams have an above .500 record which is an interesting start to the matchup. Buffalo is one of the hottest teams coming into the matchup winning 4 out of their last 5 while liberty would like to bounce back after a slim loss to Sam Houston. With pressure high and teams well matched it will be an exciting game for the spectators.
Buffalo Bulls vs. Liberty Flames 1/4/25
| When: | Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 11:00 AM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium |
| TV: | ESPN2 |
| Stream: | Sofascore |
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulls | -2.5 (-115) | 50.5 Over (-115) | -145 |  |
| Flames | +2.5 (-105) | 50.5 Under (-105) | +125 | |
| ||||
Upton Bellenfant's kick is good from 43-yards out this time.
📺ESPN2 #BowlingBulls #ALL41 pic.twitter.com/FELhJoh3CE
— UB Football (@UBFootball) January 4, 2025
Buffalo is a slight favorite, with the spread set at -2.5. Their recent offensive firepower makes them appealing, especially with their consistent ability to hit the over. Liberty’s underdog status and strong SU record make them an intriguing pick, particularly if they capitalize on their rushing game. Bettors should consider Buffalo’s OVER trend and Liberty’s Saturday dominance for their wagers.
C.J. Ogbonna QB vs. Kaidon Salter QB
Buffalo‘s quarterback C.J. Ogbonna has had a decent year as he has managed to make a total of 2244 yards with a success rate of 57.1%. He has managed to throw 19 touchdowns while only having five interceptions hence displaying his ability to withstand pressure. With a long pass of 90 yards, he has consistently been a threat due to his deep-ball threat which however is not as effective given Buffalo’s protection issues that are visible through the 20 sacks he suffered.His Bills may however find success due to Liberty’s defense not being able to utilize this weak spot.
Liberty’s Kaidon Salter counters with 1,886 passing yards and a 15:6 touchdown to interception ratio. Salter is known to be good at short-yard situations but is not able to perform passes as well as Ogbonna does. He does deal with the occasional pass protection issues that Liberty has due to his ability to run around but his rankings as a passer are slightly below average with a rating of 131.4. Salter’s throwing abilities can elongate footballs and this ability could upset Buffalo’s defenders.
Buffalo Bulls Surge Behind Balanced Attack
Buffalo is going into the Bahamas Bowl with confidence, having won their last four games and scoring big in the last match against Kent with a score of 43-7. Al-Jay Henderson has been a key player on offense, adding to the total yards gained while Victor Snow leads the receiving department. Buffalo has shown weakness in their defense several times, such as during the match against Ball State where they let the other team score 48 points. Buffalo will need to work on closing the gaps in defense and keeping the scoring streak active to remain winning.
Liberty Flames Aim for Redemption
Liberty looks to build on their 16-4 SU record, which is considerably better than their last 20 encounters. At the heart of this offense is Quinton Cooley, who accounts for a majority of the team’s touchdowns and rushing yards, clocking in 1,254 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Also an archetype of the outfit is Wide Receiver Treon Sibley, who averages 19.2 yards per reception. Liberty did however lose a close one against Sam Houston and that raised a question about their ability to show consistency. The key to winning the game will revolve around them managing the clock efficiently and finding channels in Buffalo’s defense to score.
Trends
Buffalo Bulls Betting Trends
The total has gone OVER in 8 of Buffalo’s last 9 games.
Buffalo is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games.
Buffalo is 5-0 SU against Conference USA opponents.
The total has gone OVER in Buffalo’s last 6 Saturday games.
Liberty Flames Betting Trends
Liberty is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 games.
Liberty is 16-4 SU in their last 20 games.
Liberty is 10-0 SU in Saturday games.
Liberty is 17-3 SU when playing as the favorite.
Buffalo Bulls vs. Liberty Flames Betting Prediction
Expectations are that both teams will display their attacking prowess, which suggests this will be a high-scoring affair. Buffalo’s recent performance suggests that they will be one of the match’s favorites despite Liberty being the more consistent team in this matchup.Â
The OVER bet on 50.5 is worth it as you will be able to recover all costs, based on how both teams have scored historically. Spread bettors will find the spread on Buffalo surprising at -2.5, as they are current favorites. There are also prop bets on rushing yards for Cooley and Henderson that would be worth placing.
Score Prediction: Buffalo Bulls 34, Liberty Flames 31.
