LIU rides recent history and a surging defense past New Haven

LIU has had New Haven's number lately, taking last season's meeting 38-16, and this week's trip arrives with the Sharks favored again. Versus projects a 25-19 LIU win, giving the Sharks a 64 percent chance to add another chapter to that recent dominance while New Haven looks to snap a stretch that has already seen it lose seven of its last eight games.

The records are both rough, but the gap between these two FCS programs is real. LIU sits 102nd in FCS, eight spots ahead of New Haven at 110th, and the Sharks' B- defense has carried them, allowing no more than 18 points in three straight games. New Haven's D defense and 115th ranked offense have gone the other way, getting outscored by an average of 14 points over their last five games during a 1-4 run.

Both teams also crossed paths with Duquesne this season, and the results lined up with where Versus has them ranked. LIU found a way to win that game by 3 points, while New Haven lost by 27, a swing that tracks with the eight spot difference between the two in this week's rankings. With the Northeast Conference standings on the line, LIU's recent command of this series and its steadier defense make it the team built to extend the run on the road.