The exuberance over Coastal Carolina has become a bit irrational. The Chanticleers painted a masterful unbeaten season straight-up, but the Flames did not do badly themselves. They ambushed two ACC members, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, and a one-point loss to NC State stands as their lone outright defeat. Of their last 28 outings, three-fourths have been ATS victories. Coach Hugh Freeze is 5-1 ATS in bowls, and he appears to be staying at Liberty after flirting with a return to a Power Five program. Coastal is coming off recent COVID-19 issues and is coping with injuries, notably to left tackle Antwine Loper, who sits out.

CURE BOWL -- The Chanticleers got left out of a New Year's Six bowl game, but landed in one of the most fascinating bowl games of the season against Liberty -- a regular season game that was canceled earlier this year. The quarterbacks in this game, Malik Willis for Liberty and Grayson McCall for Coastal, are two of the best in Group of Five. The Chants will likely win the battle on the line of scrimmage and, thus, the game. But the Flames' offense is way to explosive to lay more than a touchdown.