A pair of service academies wrap up the regular season this weekend when the Army Black Knights (5-6) battle the Navy Midshipmen (4-7) for the 123rd time.
The contest will be the first time since 2016 that the Commander-in-Chief trophy won’t go to the winner, with both teams losing to the Air Force Academy this season. Navy owns the all-time series led with a 62-53-7 record against Army.
Saturday’s kickoff is at 3 p.m. EST at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Navy is a 2.5-point favorite, and the over/under total is 32.5 points.
What to Know – Navy Midshipmen
Navy hasn’t suited up since mid-November, but the Midshipmen were playing well before the long hiatus. Close losses to Cincinnati and Notre Dame culminated with a victory over UCF in their last contest. Ken Niumatalolo is in his 16th season as the head coach of the Midshipmen.
The Midshipmen average 22.4 points per game, attacking opponents on the ground, tallying 239.5 yards of their total 330.9 yards on the ground. Navy’s defense surrenders 24.7 points per contest, allowing 356.0 total yards of offense.
Fullback Daba Fofana paced Navy’s rushing attack, carrying the ball 175 times for 749 yards and six touchdowns. Maquel Haywood was second on the team, rushing for 451 yards on 69 carries. The Midshipmen have rushed for 2,635 yards and scored 21 touchdowns this season on the ground.
What to Know – Army Black Knights
The Black Knights ride a two-game winning streak into Saturday’s matchup, picking up double-digit victories over Connecticut and Massachusetts. Army has won four of the last six matchups against Navy heading into this weekend’s contest. The Black Knights are coached by Jef Monken, who is in his ninth year at West Point.
Army’s offense scores 29.4 points per game, also using a heavy ground game to rack up 304.4 yards rushing and only 81.1 yards through the air. Defensively, the Black Knights hold opponents to 23.0 ppg, allowing 365.8 yards of total offense.
The Black Knights are the better of the teams at rushing the football, accumulating 3,348 yards and 37 touchdowns. Army is led by quarterback Tyhier Tyler who has rushed 120 times for 601 yards and 12 scores. Running backs Tyson Riley (435 yards, two TDs) and Jakobi Buchanan (337 yards, six TDs) contribute to the Black Knight’s efficient triple-option offense.
The Pick is In
When Army and Navy get together, you can expect a close contest and a low-scoring affair. The football will rarely see the air, as these two teams focus on controlling the football and a triple-offense offensive attack.
Navy has played the harder schedule of the two and will come into Saturday’s contest three weeks removed from its last contest. The offense will control the clock, while the defense has been excellent against the run this year and will make Army move the ball through the air.
The Pick: Navy Midshipmen -2.5
