The upcoming Bahamas Bowl is set to take place on January 4 at 11 a.m. EST, featuring a matchup between Liberty and Buffalo. With both teams bringing solid records into this encounter—Liberty at 8-3 and Buffalo at 8-4—the competitive atmosphere is sure to be heightened. The current betting odds from BetMGM favor Liberty by a margin of 2.5 points, indicating a closely contested clash ahead.
In terms of offensive performance, Liberty’s offense stands out, ranking 25th in the FBS with an average of 434.5 yards per game. Conversely, Buffalo has struggled defensively, sitting at 100th place by allowing 404.3 yards per game. Buffalo’s passing game is a concern, averaging only 190.4 yards per game, placing them at 106th in the FBS. They will face Liberty’s defense, which is more formidable, ranked 43rd with an average allowance of 201.7 yards through the air.
Reflecting on their most recent games, Liberty faced a narrow defeat against Sam Houston, losing 20-18. Kaidon Salter led the Flames widely with 83 yards on a challenging 12-of-35 passing performance, which included a touchdown and two interceptions. He added a rushing touchdown to his stats, having gained 23 yards on three carries. Running back Quinton Cooley contributed significantly with 90 rushing yards on 19 carries, while wide receiver Reese Smith had three receptions for 26 yards.
On the other hand, Buffalo secured a decisive victory over Kent State with a score of 43-7. CJ Ogbonna showcased impressive play, completing 14-of-22 passes for 193 yards, with three touchdowns to his credit, despite one interception. He also added a significant rushing presence with 51 yards across nine carries and two rushing touchdowns. Running back Al-Jay Henderson led in rushing with 185 yards on 30 carries, and Victor Snow put in a stellar performance with 99 yards from eight receptions, scoring a touchdown as well.
As for individual players to watch, Kaidon Salter for Liberty has accumulated 1,886 passing yards, averaging 171.5 per game while completing 56.3% of his passes. His season stats include 15 touchdowns against six interceptions, in addition to 579 rushing yards with seven rushing touchdowns. Running back Cooley has carried the ball 205 times for a total of 1,254 rushing yards—an average of 114 yards per game—and holds 13 touchdowns. Similarly, Treon Sibley has recorded 26 receptions for 499 yards, contributing two touchdowns to the team.
For Buffalo, Ogbonna has thrown for 2,244 passing yards (about 187 per game) and maintains a completion rate of 57.1%, alongside 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also produced 314 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns this season. Henderson is another significant player, with 183 carries leading to 959 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Meanwhile, Snow has amassed 610 receiving yards from 51 catches, with six touchdowns throughout the season.
Both teams hold intriguing statistics regarding scoring margins and turnovers. Liberty has averaged a scoring margin of 7.4 points per game against opponents, while Buffalo has a slight margin of 1.1 points. In the turnover department, Liberty ranks 62nd with a net zero turnover margin, having forced 15 turnovers while committing 15. Buffalo surpasses this with a plus 6 margin, ranking 33rd in the country after forcing 19 turnovers and committing 13, making this aspect a pivotal element for both teams in the upcoming game.