On Nov 5, LU travels to take on SEC Arkansas. This game has huge implications for LU much greater than for Arkansas. New (FBS) programs have to earn respect by beating teams:
a. in a higher respected conference
b. that have a tradition of success
c. and most importantly, win games not expected to win
In games today, some top 25 low level teams will lose and LU likely will enter the top 25. As LU heads to Fayetteville, a guess is that odds makers will have the Hogs as favorites. That's understandable and expected. For that perception to change, LU has to win. A win would escalate LU's credibility. And one has to begin to think that is a possibility with the BYU victory and the one-point loss to Wake.
Media reports after the BYU win railed against the Cougars saying the program was at an all time low. If BYU had lost to any other established school, it would have been a bad defeat, not the worse loss ever. Worst loss ever only occurs when a lower perceived team significantly beats a higher perceived team.
BYU was the most impactful game for LU so far at home for the fan base. The Arkansas game has even more national implications for LU. A loss will not hurt the program unless it is a beat down. A win would propel the program with more national and perception significance than the BYU game.
(10-30-2022 06:55 PM)army56mike Wrote: Unranked Arkansas is a 13.5 point favorite over #23 Liberty.
I hope it’ll be closer than that.
That's the best news LU could hope for. To be higher ranked and still unrespected by the line being two touchdowns.. That should create a chip on the shoulder for the team and a motivator for Freeze to use and challenge the players. The best way to gain respect and change the perception is simply to win. If LU wins, that will be a very big deal.
If liberty wants to make it into the top 10 for a NY6 bowl they will have to blow out everyone left on the schedule to include Arkansas and that still wouldn't be enough. In just happy to be 7-1 but beating bad teams by one score all season hasn't helped our perception.
(10-31-2022 04:05 AM)Frontierman Wrote: If liberty wants to make it into the top 10 for a NY6 bowl they will have to blow out everyone left on the schedule to include Arkansas and that still wouldn't be enough. In just happy to be 7-1 but beating bad teams by one score all season hasn't helped our perception.
I don’t believe blowing out all that’s left on our schedule will bump us up to Top 10 ground, even if we string together four 70-0 scores. Our opponents aren’t strong enough… Arkansas (5-3), Va. Tech (2-6), UConn (4-5), N.M. State (3-5). Those teams would also need to go undefeated the rest of the season and blow out their opponents. It would help if our previous opponents were playing better ball also… S. Miss (5-3), UAB (4-4), Akron (1-8), ODU (3-5), UMass (1-7), BYU (4-5).
Worse than that, they are also reporting that Brewer is still not ready despite looking really good on Monday. He's thrown the ball well but his hand swells up afterwards. Salter is also not ready after groin surgery. Shredo Louis lost his father unexpectedly this week and may not make the trip.
Gonna be a long afternoon. Let's go Hampton.
(This post was last modified: 11-03-2022 12:49 PM by Willflop.)
With LU QB status for 2022 continuing with the Arkansas game, heightened more with Brewer being questionable, Bennet recovering from the flu, Salter recovering from his operation, and 4th QB Nate likely to get some play time, the 2 touchdown line for Arkansas seems valid.
If in some incredible way, the LU defense is able to contain the high rated Arkansas QB and running back, this could be the most IMPORTANT victory for LU. Past games may have a greater impact, but this game is so much against LU, that an unexpected victory would propel LU with legitimacy to current naysayers. And move up LU into the top 20.
The game is going to be determined by how well LU's defense can contain the Arkansas offense. I am betting Freeze will implement some offense surprises for LU to score, even with the QB question. But if LU does not contain their offense, the score could be well beyond the current two touchdowns.
(This post was last modified: 11-04-2022 10:29 AM by NewTimes.)
LU 21, Arkansas 19. The most important victory yet for LU.
Congrats to Damien Sordelett, beat writer for the News & Advance. I read numerous web reports and articles online about game. The only writer/blogger who picked LU to win was Damien. He picked LU by 2 which was on point. His points in his article today in the N&A was as the game played out.
LU likely comes in at 20 in the major polls and enters the playoff picture. Victories against VT, U-Conn and NMSU would put LU at 11-1 with ACC and SEC victories and indy BYU. A great game today. And the defense played fantastic.
