LIU's defense gives it an edge over Wagner despite matching skids

Neither team's record hints at much right now, with LIU sitting at 2-5 and Wagner at 1-5, but Versus's ratings see a real gap between the Sharks and Seahawks. LIU checks in at 97th in FCS, four spots ahead of Wagner at 101st, and the separation shows up most clearly on defense, where LIU grades out at a C compared to Wagner's D.

That LIU defense has not allowed more than 24 points in four straight games, a streak that lines up with the program's recent form even as the overall record stayed thin. Wagner has lost five of its last six games, and its offense and defense both rank in the 115 range nationally within FCS. LIU's own offense is graded a D and ranks 111th, so this is not a case of one side dominating across the board, just a team that has found a way to keep opponents in check even while losing more than it wins.

This is a Northeast Conference game and it counts in the standings for both sides. Versus projects LIU to win 28-21, giving the Sharks a 64 percent chance, with Wagner's stronger strength of schedule rank of 28 not enough to offset the gap in power and defensive grades separating two teams still searching for footing in conference play.