[BJWilliams]

The Liberty Flames released their 2016 schedule yesterday and it will go down as one of the toughest in recent memory. Let's take a look at each game and offer my early prediction at each outcome:

09/03- @ Virginia Tech
This will be Liberty's first ever visit to Lane Stadium in nearby Blacksburg, as well as the first matchup between Liberty and an in state "Power 5" school. The Hokies will be debuting a brand new head coach in Justin Fuente after longtime coach Frank Beamer announced his retirement following the 2015 season.

The Flames have not beaten a P5 FBS opponent in their history, and the Hokies will want to make an early statement with their first year head coach. I expect VT to win this one handily, but the Flames will comport themselves well on the big stage.

Virginia Tech 41
Liberty 17

09/10 vs. Jacksonville

The Flames welcome their first Pioneer Football League opponent to Williams Stadium as the Dolphins swim up to Lynchburg. Liberty has done well in their first matchup with a school at home, winning their last 4 by double figures. Jacksonville has done well in conference but I expect the Flames to ride the home field advantage to another dominating win.

Liberty 35
Jacksonville 10

09/17 @SMU

Liberty has split their two FBS matchups the last two seasons, winning over their G5 opponent and falling to the P5 opponent. SMU struggled last year finishing 2-10, running a high octane offense that sputtered at times, including a loss to JMU last season. If the Flames offense can get rolling, they will certainly be able to hang with the Mustangs, and potentially pull the upset. I will pick SMU close in this one, but do not be surprised if LU gets another statement FBS win here this time over an American Athletic Conference opponent

SMU 49
Liberty 42

09/24 vs. Jacksonville State

This is probably the one everybody will have circled on their calendar outside of CCU (more on that one later). The Gamecocks spent much of the year at #1 before falling to North Dakota State in the national championship game. They are dealing with a bit of scandal with their starting QB Eli Jenkins as noted by LFN, so that could be an interesting subplot to this game even before the season starts because it could be a matchp of first year starters. Liberty has been known to play up for these types of games, add to that what will be a raucous home crowd and I think that is a recipe for a Flames upset.

Liberty 28
Jacksonville State 24

10/01 vs. Robert Morris

The Flames close out a two game homestand by welcoming the Colonials back to Lynchburg. Last time RMU came to town, the Flames won by 31 as Mike Brown had 4 total TDs. I expect the Flames to win in dominating fashion again even with a new sheriff in town under center, and head into the bye week over .500

Liberty 45
Robert Morris 7

10/15 @ Kennesaw State
The Flames open Big South play on the road for the second consecutive year, this time heading down to GA to take on the second year Owls. Liberty only beat KSU by 10 on Lynchburg last year, and Coach Bohannon no doubt will have tweaked things with his TO offense heading into 2016. Liberty has struggled in their debut visit to Big South programs, dating back to a road loss to Presbyterian in 2008. If the Flames can get over their road blues after the bye week, they can get a win here and get off to a better start than they did last season. I will pick the Flames here, but don't be surprised if KSU keeps it very close

Liberty 31
Kennesaw State 21

10/22 vs. Monmouth

To put it simply, the Flames will be out for blood after an embarrassing overtime loss in West Long Branch last year. Liberty has done well in what I term "payback games" over the years, and with the Hawks coming to town, I will pick the FLames to do more of the same.

Liberty 31
Monmouth 17

10/29 vs. Gardner-Webb

This was another embarrassing loss last year that the Flames will look to atone for in front of the home crowd. Flames win big

Liberty 42
Gardner-Webb 10

11/05 @ Presbyterian

The Blue Hose have languished in the second half of the conference standings, but they have given the Flames fits over the years, especially in Clinton. PC has had moments, but never quite taken that next step that CSU took and CCU before them. I will pick the Flames in this one but only because I can't bring myself to pick the Blue Hose

Liberty 28
PC 10

11/12 vs. Charleston Southern
The Bucs have made an almost meteoric rise under Jamey Chadwell, who did something that only happened once before in the history of the LU-CSU rivalry: win in Lynchburg in 2014. After winning their first outright autobid in 2015, the Bucs have a chance to cement themselves as an upper tier Big South squad with another win in Lynchburg. The Flames are tough to beat in Lynchburg (only CSU last year and CCU in 2013 have pulled it off) but this is not the CSU teams of old. I will pick the Flames in this one only because its at home, but would not be overly shocked with the Bucs turning the trick again this year with a young LU squad.

Liberty 35
CSU 31

11/17 @ Coastal Carolina
The Flames shoved CCU out the proverbial door last year with a win in the finale on ESPNEWS, highlighted by a Josh Woodrum to BJ Farrow TD and a Sportscenter Top 10 interception by freshman Chris Turner. Both squads will have QBs completing their first year as a starter with this one, but CCU has dominated this series in Conway, winning all but one matchup. Im picking the Chants in this one since its on the road, but Id love to see Liberty pull the upset and send CCU off to FBS on a low note

Coastal Carolina 20
Liberty 17

Projected record: 8-3

3 losses sounds about right if the Flames can pull an upset or two in the non-conference portion of the schedule. 7-4 is certainly also a possibility

[Dalegarz1]

I like your analysis BJ! An awful lot will depend on how quickly our new QB (if not SM) acclimates to the college game and, more importantly, develops chemistry with the receiving corp.

[BJWilliams]

That's a big question for me as well. This job is Masha's for the taking but you have to think that Yearick and Calvert will push him hard, and I may even toss a bone to Swanson in spring ball even though he is more a "pocket passer" if anything

[Dalegarz1]

With the tough part of the schedule up front, wouldn't be surprised to see Masha in there at first. Not sure if either freshman will be mentally ready for that challenge.

[BJWilliams]

Yearick will get the first shot in spring ball.

[BJWilliams]

Thought Id give this a bump as we are inside 100 days to our first trip into Lane Stadium

[rtb72]

Well....looks like we'll be facing Eli after all.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/sto ... ge-dropped