There are some fans and bettors who steer clear of bowl season, deeming it to be a bit of a waste of time, but there are plenty more who embrace the cool matchups that this part of the season delivers. There is certainly something fun about seeing unfamiliar teams go head to head, not to mention being able to get a closer look at teams that do not get a lot of airtime during the regular season. Sure, these games are notoriously difficult to handicap, but there is still money to be made if you pick and choose your wagers wisely, just as you do with every game that you play in the regular season.
We have what should be an interesting one on Tuesday afternoon, with the Navy Midshipmen taking their great ground game to Memphis to face the Kansas State Wildcats, who had one of the biggest upsets of the season, in the Liberty Bowl. Like many of the bowl games coming this week, this is one that the bookies have as being tight. Navy is in as a 2 ½ point favorite, with the point total set at 52 ½.
Navy vs Kansas State 2019 Liberty Bowl Lines & Game Preview
- When: Tuesday, December 31 at 3:45 PM EST
- Where: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis
- TV: ESPN
- Liberty Bowl Lines: Navy -2.5 (Total 52.5)
Why bet on the Navy Midshipmen?
Even if you have only seen Navy play football once or twice, you are well aware of what their philosophy is when it comes to the offensive side of the game. The ball is not going to go through the air very often at all. Instead, they are going to hit teams with the triple option, and even when you know it’s coming, it’s nigh on impossible to stop.Navy ran that system all the way to a 10-2 record this season, but it still wasn’t enough to get them into the AAC Conference Championship Game, as they were edged out by Memphis in their division. One the positive side of things, Navy went 8-1 SU in their last 9 games and are on a run that has seen them cover the spread in 13 of their last 16 games.
Team Stats
Offense- Points per Game: 38.58
- Passing Yards: 95.00
- Rushing Yards: 363.67
- Yards per Play: 6.79
Defense
- Points per Game: 22.75
- Passing Yards: 215.33
- Rushing Yards: 110.83
- Yards per Play: 5.31
Why bet on the Kansas State Wildcats?
The Kansas State Wildcats finished up the regular season with a respectable 8-4 record, but this is a year that will best be remembered for their 48-41 win over the Oklahoma Sooners. They had a couple of disappointing losses come soon after that huge win, but the Wildcats were able to steady the ship and close out the season with back to back wins.
They were a solid bet against the spread, going 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games of the season, but it should be noted that they are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games versus teams from the AAC. The Wildcats have gone 7-1 SU in the last 8 games they have played in the month of December.
Team Stats
Offense- Points per Game: 30.67
- Passing Yards: 185.67
- Rushing Yards: 189.00
- Yards per Play: 5.62
Defense
- Points per Game: 21.50
- Passing Yards: 211.67
- Rushing Yards: 152.33
- Yards per Play: 6.13
Navy vs Kansas State 2019 Liberty Bowl Betting Trends
- Midshipmen are 9-0 SU in their last 9 games when playing as the favorite
- Midshipmen are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Navy’s last 20 games played in December
- Wildcats are 5-2 SU in their last 7 games
- Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games this season
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Kansas State’s last 5 games when playing as the underdog
Expert Pick & Final Score Prediction for Navy vs Kansas State
These two teams play a rather similar brand of football, so this game really is all about who does it best. In my mind, it is Navy who are just that much stronger, so I like them to win and cover in the Liberty Bowl on Tuesday afternoon.Score: Navy Midshipmen 35 – Kansas State Wildcats 28
