College Football Best Bets: Army vs. Navy
Like the holiday song states, "It's the most wonderful time...of the year!"
We had our conference championship games, and the College Football Playoff bracket is set. Some teams received a wonderful early gift, while others, like Notre Dame, received a big sack of coal. There is always going to be somebody bellyaching about how unfair things are.
Two teams that never seem to bellyache, and still play for the love of the game, are Army and Navy, and we get old-school football at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS.
Sadly, I know a lot of fans of college football, yet they completely ignore the Army-Navy game. It really is a throwback game, and with all of the pomp and circumstance and the tradition, if you don't enjoy this rivalry game, do you REALLY like college football? You don't have to be in the armed forces to appreciate what these honorable young men are doing out there.
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Army vs. Navy Betting Odds
Spread: Army +7.0 (FanDuel Sportsbook); Navy -6.5 (Caesars Sportsbook)
Total: Over 38.5 (FanDuel Sportsbook); Under 38.5 (DraftKings Sportsbook)
Moneyline: Army +225 (DraftKings Sportsbook); Navy -250 (BetMGM)
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Army vs. Navy Betting Picks
The Black Knights (6-5) and the Midshipmen (9-2) meet Saturday in Baltimore at 3 p.m. ET.
Both of these teams are headed for bowl games, as Army is slated to face UConn on Saturday, Dec. 27 at the Wasabi Fenway Bowl at 2:15 p.m. ET on ESPN, while Navy is scheduled to meet Cincinnati in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis on Friday, Jan. 2 at 4:30 p.m. ET, also on ESPN.
Navy leads the all-time series 63-55-7, including a 31-13 win at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, last season on Dec. 14, 2024. Army's last win came in a 17-11 win at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Dec. 9, 2023. The last time these teams played in Baltimore, Army came away with a 21-17 win on Dec. 10, 2016. This will be the seventh-ever meeting in Charm City, with both Army and Navy picking up three wins apiece.
The Black Knights will honor the U.S. Army's 250 Years of sacrifice and service with amazing special commemorative helmets and jerseys. Seriously, go to https://1775.football for a sneak peek. This setup is amazing, yet simple, too.
In addition, the Midshipmen will also honor their 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy in the 126th playing of the Army-Navy game. Navy will be rolling with copper helmets, with, well, navy blue jerseys. Go to https://navy250uniform.com if you want to check them out. For me, I have no dog in the fight, but I give Army the edge in the jersey game. Simple and understated always wins the day for me in these alternate or commemorative jersey situations.
It's a wonder Army is in position for a bowl game, as it started the season with a 30-27 OT loss to FCS Tarleton State, while starting out 1-3 SU and ATS in the first four games. However, it improved dramatically on defense as the season went along, putting less stress on the offense.
The Black Knights went 5-2 SU and 4-3 against the spread (ATS) in the final seven games, including a 3-1 SU/4-0 ATS mark in four games away from Michie Stadium in West Point. The only road loss during the span was a 24-17 setback at Tulane, a team that made the 12-team CFP field.
The Midshipmen were in the mix for an American Conference championship, but it came up just short. Navy was buried at Notre Dame on Nov. 8, falling 49-10 as a 31-point underdog, while losing at North Texas 31-17 on Nov. 1. However, at 7-2 on Nov. 15, Navy rebounded with a 41-38 win over USF on Nov. 15 as a 9.5-point underdog, while surprising Memphis 28-17 in the conference finale as a 3.5-point underdog.
Navy managed 478.2 total yards per game, while leading the nation with 328.2 rushing yards per game. The Middies posted 150.0 passing yards per game, so Navy can move the ball through the air if it has to. Defensively, the Middies can struggle, allowing 438.6 total yards per game, including 281.1 passing yards per game, but that won't be an issue against Army.
QB Blake Horvath completed 61.8 percent of his passes for 1,390 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions, while posting 1,040 rushing yards with 14 scores, averaging 6.0 yards per carry (YPC). RB Alex Tecza was good for 772 yards and nine touchdowns, while posting 5.8 YPC. RB Eli Heidenreich compiled 409 yards and three scores, averaging 6.6 YPC, while RB Brandon Chapman was good for 406 yards, three scores and 7.5 YPC.
Heidenreich had five receptions for 146 yards against USF, too, becoming Navy's all-time receiving yardage leader.
Army posted just 335.2 total yards per game, although it was good for 256.9 rushing yards per outing, ranking sixth. It isn't quite as diverse offensively, and it managed just 78.3 yards per game through the air. The concern is that when Army falls behind early, it can't pass its way back into the game.
QB Cale Hellums passed for just 504 yards and three touchdowns, while running for 1,078 yards and 15 scores. WR Noah Short was actually second with 552 yards and 6.1 YPC, while RB Hayden Reed added 335 yards, 4.5 YPC and three touchdown runs.
Defensively, the Black Knights are stout, allowing just 357.0 total yards per game and 209.9 passing yards per game, ranking 44th in each stat. Army allowed just 147.1 rushing yards per game, a mark that will certainly be tested early and often by Navy. It also allowed 22.5 PPG, which was quite good.
Navy is just a little more diversified on offense, but it will be put to the test by Army's stout defense. Still, expect the Middies to get the job done in the end.
America's Game Best Bet: Navy -6.5 (Caesars Sportsbook)
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Army vs. Navy Betting Predictions
As far as the total for this game, we saw Army cash high in the final two games against Tulsa and UTSA, but prior to that, the Black Knights had cashed low in six consecutive outings, and the Under is 7-3 in 10 games this season against FBS opponents.
In the past four games on the road, the Under is 3-1 for Army, allowing 19.5 PPG.
For Navy, the Under cashed in the finale at Memphis, limiting the high-octane Tigers offense to just 17 points. That was an anomaly, though, as the Midshipmen had allowed at least 31 points in six straight games from Oct. 4 through Nov. 15, including in a 34-31 win over Air Force in the first game for the battle for the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
Army also topped Air Force 20-17 in Colorado Springs on Nov. 1, so Saturday's game will decide who gets the CIC title this season, although beating each other if often prize enough.
Score Prediction: Navy 22, Army 13
Army vs. Navy Player Props Best Bets for Saturday, December 13
Navy RB Alex Tecza - 90+ Rushing Yards (+220 FanDuel Sportsbook)
The senior from Pittsburgh comes in with a head of steam. Tecza rolled up 12 carries for 126 yards, including a 76-yard touchdown run to open the scoring and set the tone. He also had a 14-yard touchdown reception for Horvath in the second quarter of the USF game. He followed the p with 103 yards and a pair of scores on 26 totes at Memphis last time out on Nov. 27. He has four 100-yard games, and he is a great play at this projection. If you're more conservative, over 64.5 rushing yards is an OK play, but for the chance to double up, go with 90+ yards.
Army QB Cale Hellums - Anytime TD Scorer (-185 FanDuel Sportsbook)
For Army, it all starts and stops with Hellums, and his production against the Middies will determine how well the Black Knights perform. I don't like his rushing total projections, as Over 106.5 (-114) seems a bit much, and there is no value betting the alternate rushing totals with lower projections than that. Instead, let's play Hellums to get at least one touchdown in this game. He has scored 15 rushing scores, so at least one should be a slam-dunk play, although you'll pay a pretty penny for that play.
