2021 Liberty Bowl Betting

The Liberty Bowl has been running since 1959, thus making it the eighth-longest-running NCAAF bowl game. Usually occurring in late December or early January, it pits the Big 12’s No. 4 selection against a Southeastern Conference pool pick.
The 2021 Liberty Bowl will see the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Big 12 #4 pick) and Mississippi Bulldogs (SEC pool pick) meet. Announced on December 5th, this matchup is taking place on Dec. 28th at Memphis’ Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. If you’re interested in wagering on this game, you can do so at the best betting sites in US.
You can also read the following Autozone Liberty Bowl betting guide.
2021 Liberty Bowl
📅 Date: | Tuesday, December 28, 2021 |
⏲️Time: | 6:45 p.m. ET |
🏟️Venue: | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee |
📺 Watch: | ESPN |
🏈 Teams: | Texas Tech (Big 12) vs. Mississippi State (SEC) |
Betting on Texas Tech at the Liberty Bowl
Texas Tech has had an up-and-down regular season. It started off with three straight non-conference wins, only to struggle in conference play. The Red Raiders finished 3-5 in the Big 12 and 3-1 in non-conference games. Overall, they bring a 6-6 record into the matchup with Mississippi State.
Third-year head coach Matt Wells got fired halfway through the season following a home loss to Kansas State. Offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie briefly took over as interim head coach, before Joey McGuire was hired in November. Despite the coaching upheaval, the team still managed to snap a three-year streak of missing out on NCAAF bowl games.
Offensively, the Texas Tech Red Raiders have three quarterbacks who’ve thrown for 800+ yards. Tyler Shough (872 YDs, 6 TDs) began the year as the starter before getting hurt. Backup Henry Colombi (1,291 YDs, 5 TDs) assumed the starting role and struggled with five interceptions. Third-stringer Donovan Smith (929 YDs, 6TDs) has since taken over and will start in the bowl game.
The Red Raiders average 30 points and 408.2 yards on the season. However, they’ve given up 32.2 points and 410.1 yards per game defensively.
Betting on Mississippi State at the Liberty Bowl
Mississippi State QB Will Rogers and head coach Mike Leach are the big stories going into this game. Rogers has thrown for an astounding 4,449 yards while leading the nation’s third-best passing offense. Ranking second nationally in passing yards, he’s also tossed 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
As for Leach, he’s facing the former team that he coached from 2000–2009. Leach got fired by the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2009, despite accumulating an 84–43 record there. He’s since launched a never-ending lawsuit against Tech after claiming wrongful termination. In his second year at Mississippi State, Leach has now led this team to their 12th straight bowl appearance.
The 7–5 Bulldogs opened the year with a mediocre 2–2 start. They played decent in the always-brutal SEC and finished with a 4–4 conference record. MSU has notched notable wins over Texas A&M, Kentucky, and Auburn.
The Mississippi State Bulldogs average 30.0 points and 449.6 yards per game. The latter stat is anchored by an impressive 385.7 passing yards. Defensively, this team gives up 25.3 points and 331.3 yards per game. It’s particularly tough on the run while allowing opponents just 101.2 rushing yards.
2021 Liberty Bowl Odds
Many US online sportsbooks are offering betting lines on Mississippi State vs Texas Tech. The majority of betting sites have the Bulldogs and their vaunted pass-offense favored to win big. DraftKings and Unibet are among the sportsbooks that really like Mississippi State in this one. If you wager at these sites, you should note that they’ll offer in-play betting on the Autozone Liberty Bowl too.
Liberty Bowl Moneyline Odds
A moneyline bet is an extremely popular wager that revolves around which team will win the game. Of course, each side is handicapped to ensure that both the favorite and underdog receive action. As seen below, MSU is easily the favorite in this bowl game:
- Mississippi State -350
- Texas Tech +270
Again, these betting odds represent the mean. If you’re looking for the most value on Mississippi State, though, then the BetMGM sports app has them at -333 odds. Meanwhile, Caesars Sports has Texas Tech at a palatable +280 odds.
Looking at betting stats, Mississippi State has gone 4-2 straight up (SU) in its last four games. The Texas Tech Red Raiders, however, are only 2-5 SU in their last seven contests.
Liberty Bowl Point Spread Odds
A point spread bet involves deciding if two teams can cover their respective handicap. The common spread for this game is:
- Mississippi State -9.5
- Texas Tech +9.5
The Bulldogs have performed well against the spread, going 4-1 in their last five contests. The Texas Tech Red Raiders, on the other hand, are just 1-4 ATS within the same span. If you like Mississippi State in this one, then you should opt for BetMGM and their -8.5 line.
Liberty Bowl Over/Under Odds
When betting on the over/under (totals), you decide if teams will go over or under a combined point total. 59.5 is the common over/under for Mississippi State vs Texas Tech. This line is close to the 60.9 points that both teams combined for during the regular season. Additionally, the Red Raiders give up 32.1 points per game.
You should consider PointsBet sportsbook if you like the under in this one. This bookmaker is only taking -105 juice (instead of the -110 standard) on the under. The catch, though, is that PointsBet is offering a 59 line, meaning you lose half a point on the under.
Liberty Bowl Prop Bets
The Autozone Liberty Bowl will feature some interesting prop bets. The latter, as you may know, are wagers that have nothing to do with the final score or winner. A few available Liberty Bowl prop bets include:
- First half winning margin
- Race to 10 points
- Race to 20 points
- Will the team that scores first win the game
- Over/under on Will Rogers’ passing yards
These betting odds only represent some of what’s available regarding prop bets. Larger online sportsbooks such as BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel sportsbook offer many prop bets.
Liberty Bowl Past Results
The following table shows the last 10 winners of the Liberty Bowl:
Year | Winner (Score) | Loser (Score) |
---|---|---|
2020 | West Virginia 24 | Army 21 |
2019 | Navy 20 | Kansas State 17 |
2018 | Oklahoma State 38 | Missouri 33 |
2017 | Iowa State 21 | Memphis 20 |
2016 | Georgia 31 | TCU 23 |
2015 | Arkansas 45 | Kansas State 23 |
2014 | Texas A&M 45 | West Virginia 37 |
2013 | Mississippi State 44 | Rice 7 |
2012 | Tulsa 31 | Iowa State 17 |
2011 | Cincinnati 31 | Vanderbilt 24 |
2010 | UCF 10 | Georgia 6 |
Who won the most Liberty Bowls?
Ole Miss has captured the most Liberty Bowls. However, Mississippi State has a chance to catch them with a fourth victory in this upcoming game.
Team | No. Of Birmingham Bowl Wins | Years Won |
---|---|---|
Ole Miss | 4 | 1965, 1968, 1989, 1992 |
Louisville | 3 | 1991, 2001, 2004 |
Penn State | 3 | 1959, 1960, 1979 |
Tennessee | 3 | 1971, 1974, 1986 |
Liberty Bowl Betting Tips
This game offers some interesting betting opportunities—including some that might prove quite lucrative. The following betting tips offer insight into some favorable bets.
Mississippi State -350
The thought of a -350 moneyline may not sound overly appealing. However, the Bulldogs do have a solid chance to triumph. They have one of the nation’s best quarterbacks going against one of the weaker Big 12 defenses. The Texas Tech Red Raiders surrendered over 32 points per game during the regular season.
Over 59.5 (-110)
The oddsmakers have this line right for the most part. However, we like these teams to go over 60 due to the fact that they average 61 points together. And again, the Red Raiders just can’t seem to stop opposing offenses.
Avoid the 9.5 Spreads
Texas Tech looks like it can keep this game close on paper. It only got outscored by opponents by 2.1 points on the season. However, the Red Raiders were also involved in many blowouts wins and losses during the regular season. Their inclusion makes point spread betting too volatile on either side—even at -9.5/+9.5.
Race to 30: Texas Tech (+550)
We saw a Race to 30 prop bet where Texas Tech carries +550 betting odds. Their opponent, MSU, no doubt boasts a strong run defense and holds opponents to 25.3 points. However, the Red Raiders did average 30 points and could conceivably beat MSU to this mark if everything goes well. The +550 odds on this line are too juicy to pass up.
FAQ
Where is the 2021 Liberty Bowl?
This college football game will happen at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. Playing host to the Memphis Tigers during the regular season, this stadium seats 58,325 fans.
When is the 2021 Liberty Bowl?
The 2021 Liberty Bowl takes place on Tuesday, December 28, 2021. Kick-off time is scheduled for 6:45pm EST.
Who is playing in the 2021 Liberty Bowl?
The Texas Tech Red Raiders are taking on the Mississippi State Bulldogs in this game. The Bulldogs are favored to win among online sportsbooks.
Who has the most Liberty Bowl wins?
Ole Miss holds the record for most Liberty Bowl wins with four. However, Mississippi State (3 victories) has a chance to match this record by beating Texas Tech.
Can I bet on the 2021 Liberty Bowl?
Many US betting sites are covering the 2021 Autozone Liberty Bowl. That said, you should be able to find an online sportsbook where you can wager on this game.
Where can I bet on the Liberty Bowl?
BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, and PointsBet are among the betting sites taking wagers on this game. Plenty of other regulated US online sportsbooks are also offering Liberty Bowl betting odds.
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