Liberty at Syracuse Week 4 College Football Matchup Liberty at Syracuse Matchup - Week 4
Sat, Sep 25 2021 · Week 4 · 🏟 Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY · Turf · 49,250 cap
Liberty✈ 424 miSame TZ
Away
21 24
Final
Home
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Liberty
30
SYR +6.5
Syracuse
24
P&R Line Liberty -5.5
P&R Total O/U 53.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Liberty -6.5 · O/U 54.0
Matchup Prediction
Liberty has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Liberty entering this game.
Momentum Control
61.3%
Liberty wins
Lean
Game Control
75.9%
Liberty wins
Solid
Vegas Spread
Liberty -6.5
O/U 54.0
teamrankings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Liberty · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🏠 Syracuse 3rd straight Home Game
Liberty 2021 Schedule
Liberty's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Liberty vs Campbell-35.0W48–765.0W48–7UY
Sat 9/11Liberty at Troy-3.0W21–1362.5W21–13UY
Sat 9/18Liberty vs Old Dominion-26.5W45–1753.5W45–17OY
Fri 9/24Liberty at Syracuse-6.5L21–2454.0L21–24UN
Sat 10/2Liberty at UAB+3.0W36–1249.0W36–12UY
Sat 10/9Liberty vs Middle Tennessee-20.0W41–1359.0W41–13UY
Sat 10/16Liberty at UL Monroe-32.5L28–3157.0L28–31ON
Sat 10/23Liberty at North Texas-21.0W35–2661.0W35–26UN
Sat 10/30Liberty vs Massachusetts-35.5W62–1756.0W62–17OY
Sat 11/6Liberty at Ole Miss+7.5L14–2766.5L14–27UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/20Liberty vs Louisiana-4.0L14–4253.5L14–42ON
Sat 11/27Liberty vs Army-3.0L16–3151.5L16–31UN
Sat 12/18Liberty vs Eastern Michigan-9.5W56–2058.5W56–20OY
Syracuse 2021 Schedule
Syracuse's 2021 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/4Syracuse at Ohio+2.0W29–955.5W29–9UY
Sat 9/11Syracuse vs Rutgers+2.5L7–1750.5L7–17UN
Sat 9/18Syracuse vs UAlbany-21.5W62–2441.0W62–24OY
Fri 9/24Syracuse vs Liberty+6.5W24–2154.0W24–21UY
Sat 10/2Syracuse at Florida State+5.5L30–3350.0L30–33OY
Sat 10/9Syracuse vs Wake Forest+5.5L37–4059.0L37–40OY
Fri 10/15Syracuse vs Clemson+12.5L14–1744.0L14–17UY
Sat 10/23Syracuse at Virginia Tech+3.5W41–3645.5W41–36OY
Sat 10/30Syracuse vs Boston College-6.5W21–651.5W21–6UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 11/13Syracuse at Louisville+3.0L3–4155.5L3–41UN
Sat 11/20Syracuse at NC State+11.0L17–4149.5L17–41ON
Sat 11/27Syracuse vs Pittsburgh+12.0L14–3158.5L14–31UN
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2021 season
Liberty PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Liberty
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Liberty
+0.454
Syracuse
+0.341
Liberty Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Liberty
+0.513
Syracuse
+0.328
Liberty Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Liberty
0.178
Syracuse
0.187
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Syracuse Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Liberty
+8.821
Syracuse
+7.329
Liberty Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Liberty
+0.881
Syracuse
+0.818
Liberty Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Liberty
71.5
Syracuse
73.6
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Liberty Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2021 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Syracuse Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Liberty
-2.9
Syracuse
-2.2
Offense Rating
Liberty
15.1
Syracuse
16.1
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Liberty
18.0
Syracuse
18.3
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Liberty Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Liberty #41
1.33
Syracuse #108
0.50
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Liberty #63
0.00
Syracuse #30
0.00
Liberty +0.83
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 61.3% of games historically
Based on 2 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Liberty Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Liberty #1
87.7
Syracuse #1
63.5
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Liberty #41
4.5
Syracuse #90
21.0
Liberty +24.2
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 75.9% of games historically
Based on 3 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Tie
1 — 1 sequences
✗ Predicted incorrectly
GC Battle
Syracuse
52.1 — 27.9 GC score
✗ Predicted incorrectly
Game Result
Syracuse won by 3
✗ Model missed it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Liberty with a large edge. Historically, dominant teams like this are fully priced into the spread — the agreed-upon team covers just 50.2% of the time. The metrics predict game control better than they beat the number.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Liberty
Hugh Freeze #1
21–6 (78%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Kent Austin Yr 1 #1
DC Scott Symons Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Syracuse
Dino Babers #1
26–37 (41%) · Yr 6 at school
OC Sterlin Gilbert Yr 1 #1
DC Tony White Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself