FBS-CFB Game Preview: Liberty Flames (1-3) vs. Old Dominion Monarchs (2-1)

0
53

Venue, Date & Time

Location: Kornblau Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium, Norfolk, Virginia (Capacity: 20,118)

Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET

Broadcast: ESPN+

Weather Forecast (Norfolk, VA)

Conditions: Clear skies, mild evening

Temperature: ~76°F (24°C) at kickoff

Wind: 6–8 mph

Impact: Excellent football weather; no disruptions expected

Injury Report

Liberty Flames

No major new injuries reported; QB Ethan Vasko expected to start.

Old Dominion Monarchs

RB depth thin after early-season knocks, but starter Trequan Jones is available.

WR Ja’Cory Thomas probable (minor ankle).

Key Player Matchups

QB Ethan Vasko (Liberty, 763 yds, 6 TD, 3 INT, 142 rush yds, 2 TD) vs. QB Colton Joseph (ODU, 629 yds, 5 TD, 3 INT, 294 rush yds, 4 TD)

Vasko is Liberty’s dual-threat leader; Joseph is ODU’s efficient passer and dangerous runner.

RB Evan Dickens (Liberty, 311 yds, 2 TD) vs. RB Trequan Jones (ODU, 264 yds, 4 TD, 14.7 YPC)

Dickens is Liberty’s workhorse; Jones is explosive, averaging over 130 yds/game.

WR Donte Lee Jr. (Liberty, 208 yds, 3 TD) vs. WR Ja’Cory Thomas (ODU, 193 yds, 1 TD)

Lee is Liberty’s top red-zone target; Thomas is Joseph’s reliable chain-mover.

LB Derrell Farrar (Liberty, 25 tackles) vs. LB Jeremy Mack Jr. (ODU, 2 sacks)

Farrar leads Liberty’s defense in tackles; Mack Jr. is ODU’s disruptive force in the front seven.

Recent Team Forms

Liberty Flames (1-3, C-USA)

L 31–13 vs. James Madison

L 23–13 @ Bowling Green

L 34–24 @ Jacksonville State

W 28–7 vs. Maine

Trend: Offense averaging just 19.5 PPG; defense allowing 23.8 PPG.

Old Dominion Monarchs (2-1, Sun Belt)

W 45–26 @ Virginia Tech

W 54–6 vs. North Carolina Central

L 27–14 @ Indiana

Trend: Offense averaging 37.7 PPG; defense allowing 19.7 PPG.

Conference Context

Liberty: Conference USA member, struggling early in 2025 after a strong 2023 campaign.

Old Dominion: Sun Belt East contender, looking to build momentum after a statement win over Virginia Tech.

Series History

All-time H2H: Liberty leads 4–1

Current Streak: Liberty has won 4 straight (2018–2023)

Last Meeting (2023): Liberty 38–10 win in Lynchburg

Largest Margin: Liberty 52–10 (2018)

Betting Trends

Liberty:

0–4 ATS in 2025

1–3 O/U this season

4–0 ATS in last 4 vs. ODU

Old Dominion:

3–0 ATS in 2025

2–1 O/U this season

5–1 SU in last 6 home games

Historical Betting Results

2023: Liberty -14 covered, won 38–10 (Under 60.5)

2022: Liberty -3 covered, won 38–24 (Over 47.5)

2021: Liberty -27.5 covered, won 45–17 (Over 54)

2018: Liberty +5 covered, upset ODU 52–10 (Over 59)

2013: ODU -4 covered, won 21–17 (Under 47)

Game Odds

Liberty Flames                                  53.5

Old Dominion Monarchs              – 14.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025