The last college football game before the bowl season will be played this coming Saturday by the Army Knights and the Navy Midshipmen, as usual. On paper the Knights are a much better and more consistent team than the Midshipmen, but it’s hard to overlook that fact that Navy is 8-2 straight up (SU) in the last 10 editions of this matchup and boast the overall series lead over Army with a 60–51–7 record. That said, Army has won the last two meetings, which also plays a roll in why the sportsbook favors them by over a touchdown.
Betting on the Army Knights (9-2 Overall / 0-0 Conference)
Army will be bringing a seven-game win streak to its showdown with the Midshipmen this coming weekend. In their most recent outing, the Knights easily defeated the Colgate Raiders at home, 28-14. Army quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. went 2-for-6 for 25 passing yards. It’s not unusual for the Knights to give so light of a workload to their passing attack. After all, they are tops in the nation with an 88.89 rushing play percentage. They also lead the nation in rushes per game with 66.7 attempts per contest. Senior running back Darnell Woolfolk and Hopkins have been two of the Knights’ best weapons on the ground. Woolfolk leads the team with 823 rushing yards with 14 rushing touchdowns on 194 carries, while Hopkins has 783 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns on 179 carries. Woolfolk collected 57 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in the Army’s 14-13 win over Navy last year. The Knights aren’t also too shabby defensively. In fact, they are allowing just 19.9 points per game, 16th best in the nation. Furthermore, Army has not surrendered more than 14 points in each of its last three contests.
Army is 4-0 against the spread (ATS) in its last four games against the Midshipmen.
Betting on the Navy Midshipmen (3-9 Overall / 2-6 Conference)
Unlike the Knights, Navy is coming into its annual date with Army on a wobbly form. The Midshipmen have lost eight of their last nine contests. The last time they were on the field, they were edged by the Tulane Green Wave in a close 29-28 road loss last week. Quarterback Zach Abey went 7 of 13 under center for 167 passing yards and a touchdown, while adding just 11 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Navy could also opt to start quarterback Garrett Lewis, who leads the team with 398 passing yards to go along with two passing touchdowns this season. But similar to Army, the heart of Navy’s offense is in the backfield. The Midshipmen isn’t too far behind Army in the rushing play percentage department, as they are third in that category with an 84.34 clip. Junior running back Malcolm Perry is Navy’s bell cow, leading the team in carries (166), rushing yards (1,035), and rushing touchdowns (7). Perry was a one-man wrecking crew for Navy in last year’s meeting with Army, as he rushed for 250 of the team’s 294 rushing yards with a touchdown. He also caught the lone reception of the game for a mere two yards. Navy is scoring 24.0 points per game.
