Liberty Flames defeat Sam Houston Bearkats 35-3: Recap, Betting Results & AiQ Picks
Thu, Oct 8, 2026 · NCAAF · Sam Houston Bearkats 3, Liberty Flames 35
The Liberty Flames beat the Sam Houston Bearkats 35-3 on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Williams Stadium (VA). The Liberty Flames covered the spread as 13.5-point favorites. The game went under the closing total of 53, with 38 points combined. AiQ's moneyline pick in this game won, and its player props went 9-6.
Sam Houston Bearkats vs. Liberty Flames final score and game recap
The Liberty Flames led 7-0 after the first quarter and 14-3 at halftime. They outscored the Sam Houston Bearkats 21-0 in the second half, 14-0 in the fourth quarter alone. They led at the end of every quarter.
The leading performers, from the box score:
- Landyn Locke (Sam Houston Bearkats): 20/30 passing for 138 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions.
- MJ Dowdy (Sam Houston Bearkats): 11 carries for 42 yards.
- Jaylon Coleman (Liberty Flames): 7 carries for 92 yards.
- Kam Davis (Liberty Flames): 10 carries for 67 yards, 1 rushing touchdown.
Who covered the spread in Sam Houston Bearkats vs. Liberty Flames?
The Liberty Flames covered the spread as 13.5-point favorites, winning by 32 points.
The spread opened and closed at Liberty Flames -13.5.
Did Sam Houston Bearkats vs. Liberty Flames go over or under the total?
The game went under: 38 points combined against a closing total of 53, under by 15. 17 of the 38 points came in the first half.
The total opened at 52.5 and closed at 53.
How did AiQ's Sam Houston Bearkats vs. Liberty Flames predictions do?
AiQ's moneyline pick in this game won, and its player props went 9-6.
- Moneyline: the Liberty Flames to win at -550, a win (+$18.18 on a $100 bet).
- Player props: 9-6, +$0.13 on $100 a pick at the listed prices.
Sam Houston Bearkats vs. Liberty Flames player prop results
AiQ's player prop picks went 9-6 in this game, +$0.13 on $100 a pick at the listed prices.
- Makai Jackson (Liberty Flames): to score a touchdown at +180, a loss.
- Kam Davis (Liberty Flames): to score a touchdown at -380, a win.
- Chris Reed (Sam Houston Bearkats): to score a touchdown at +190, a loss.
- Deshawn Purdie (Liberty Flames): under 1.5 passing touchdowns at -126, finished with 1, a win.
- Jamari Person (Liberty Flames): under 2.5 receptions at -149, finished with 1, a win.
- Deshawn Purdie (Liberty Flames): under 190.5 passing yards at -112, finished with 114, a win.
- Landyn Locke (Sam Houston Bearkats): under 1.5 passing touchdowns at -152, finished with 0, a win.
- Tim Burns Jr. (Sam Houston Bearkats): under 2.5 receptions at -172, finished with 2, a win.
- Chris Reed (Sam Houston Bearkats): under 3.5 receptions at -167, finished with 3, a win.
- Grady O'Neill (Sam Houston Bearkats): under 5.5 receptions at -154, finished with 3, a win.
- Makai Jackson (Liberty Flames): over 3.5 receptions at -156, finished with 3, a loss.
- Grady O'Neill (Sam Houston Bearkats): under 47.5 receiving yards at -112, finished with 39, a win.
- 3 more picks are in the record above but not listed.
Sam Houston Bearkats vs. Liberty Flames game prop results: team totals, first half and first quarter
AiQ does not pick game props. This is how the sportsbook markets settled.
- Liberty Flames team total 33.5: the over, paying -120, with 35 scored.
- Sam Houston Bearkats team total 19.5: the under, paying -108, with 3 scored.
- First-half moneyline: Liberty Flames won the first half, paying -375.
- First-quarter total 10.5: the under, paying -130, with 7 points scored.
- First-half total 26.5: the under, paying +105, with 17 points scored.
- First-quarter moneyline: Liberty Flames won the first quarter, paying -280.
- First-half spread: Liberty Flames -7 covered, paying -120.
Sam Houston Bearkats vs. Liberty Flames odds: sportsbook value and line movement
Shortly before the start, the consensus moneyline had the Sam Houston Bearkats at +402 and the Liberty Flames at -554. With the bookmaker's margin removed, that made the Liberty Flames a 81% favorite. The Liberty Flames won as the favorite at -554: $18.05 profit on a $100 bet. On AiQ's moneyline pick, the Liberty Flames, the price before the game was -550: priced below fair (−1.5% value).
The total moved up from 52.5 to 53, and the game went under.
Sam Houston Bearkats and Liberty Flames betting trends: 2026 season
This result left the Sam Houston Bearkats 1-4 in the 2026 regular season (1-1 at home, 0-3 away or at neutral sites). Against the spread, they covered in 3 of 4 games with a closing line on file. Their games went over the closing total 1 time and under 3 times. That made it two straight losses for the Sam Houston Bearkats.
This result left the Liberty Flames 5-1 in the 2026 regular season (3-0 at home, 2-1 away or at neutral sites). Against the spread, they covered in 4 of 6 games with a closing line on file. Their games went over the closing total 2 times and under 4 times. That made it five straight wins for the Liberty Flames.
What's next for Sam Houston Bearkats and Liberty Flames?
Next for the Sam Houston Bearkats: the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at home on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Next for the Liberty Flames: at the Kennesaw State Owls on Thursday, October 22, 2026.