Account
Liberty Bowl 2021: Odds, Daily Fantasy Tips for Mississippi State vs. Texas Tech
December 27, 2021
The Liberty Bowl is ripe with juicy storylines.
The one you will hear the most is that Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach is going up against former program the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
You should also hear a ton about new Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire and what he is planning to build for the 2022 campaign.
The game may need a few talking points to be discussed in the fourth quarter since Mississippi State is a heavy favorite.
The Bulldogs have one of the more underrated Power Five quarterbacks in Will Rogers and are set to go up against a Texas Tech squad in transition without its top wide receiver.
Liberty Bowl Info
Date: Tuesday, December 28
Start Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: ESPN.com and ESPN app
Game Odds
Spread: Mississippi State -9.5
Over/Under: 58.5
Moneyline: Mississippi State -365 (bet $365 to win $100); Texas Tech +280 (bet $100 to win $280)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook.
Daily Fantasy Tips
Put Mississippi State's Passing Attack in Lineup Stack
Mississippi State started to morph into a Mike Leach Air Raid team in the head coach's second season.
Leach has the right quarterback at the helm in Rogers, who could be poised for a major 2022 campaign.
The sophomore quarterback threw for four or more touchdowns in four of his past six games. His best performance was a 415-yard, six-touchdown outing in a come-from-behind win over the Auburn Tigers. Rogers has a 35-8 touchdown-to-interception ratio and he has been picked off once in his past five trips to the gridiron.
Rogers and his wide receivers should feast on a Texas Tech defense that allows 410.8 total yards per game. Texas Tech gave up at least 23 points in four of its past five losses, and all of those defeats came during the stretch run of the regular season.
Look for Rogers to connect with Makai Polk and Jaden Walley on a frequent basis Tuesday. Running back Jo'quavious Marks should also get in on the fun.
Polk leads the Bulldogs with 98 receptions, 989 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Walley is averaging 11.7 yards per catch, and Marks has nine total touchdowns.
Mississippi State has one of the best potential lineup stacks for daily fantasy football contests over Tuesday's five-game slate. If Rogers and Co. operate at a high level, Mississippi State could have some top point-scorers at a few positions.
Look for Gems Across Texas Tech Roster
Texas Tech is at the most significant disadvantage of any bowl participant Tuesday.
The Red Raiders closed the regular season with four losses in five games, and they are waiting to fully transition into the McGuire era.
Better days are ahead for the Big 12 side, but it might have to experience a tough bowl result before getting there.
Texas Tech's top wide receiver, Erik Ezukanma, opted out of the Liberty Bowl to focus on the 2022 NFL draft. He had 48 catches, 705 receiving yards and four touchdown grabs.
The Big 12 program comes into Tuesday with a single wide receiver who had more than 500 receiving yards and a revolving door under center. Texas Tech used three starting quarterbacks this season. Donovan Smith finished as the starter after Henry Colombi and Tyler Shough got their shots.
Smith, running back Tahj Brooks and one or two of the depth wide receivers on the Texas Tech are worth considering as potential gems for DFS contests. Kaylon Geiger and Myles Price are next up on the stat chart behind Ezukanma.
It is hard to put trust in anyone from an offense that went through so much change and sputtered in October and November, but most of Texas Tech's players should have low roster percentages, which may lead to a low-risk, high-reward roster spot.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.