A couple of schools that prefer to run the football, Coach Ken Niumatalolo and the No. 21 Navy Midshipmen (-11) are prepared to host the Army West Point Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field. The opening kickoff for this matchup is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. ET and CBS will televise the action.
Betting Preview: Navy Midshipmen vs. Army West Point Black Knights
In this Saturday game, Navy is projected as the big favorite and the team’s currently giving up 11 points. The Black Knights are also receiving +315 moneyline odds while the Midshipmen are -425. Oddsmakers have determined the over/under (O/U) to be 41.5 points, and if one school can catch a lucky break early, it’ll probably produce a solid live betting opportunity.
The game’s total has been driven down after originally being set at 45. The opening spread (-11) has remained consistent.
The underwhelming Black Knights are 5-7 against the spread (ATS) and are down 9.8 units so far in 2019. The team’s posted an O/U mark of 5-6-1.
The surprising Midshipmen are up 5.3 units this season. The team is 8-3 ATS and has an O/U record of 7-4.
The Black Knights have gone a lousy 5-7 straight up (SU) in 2019 while the Midshipmen are 9-2 SU.
These two schools faced off last year with the final result being a 17-10 win for Army West Point.
The Black Knights look to get back in stride after a 52-31 defeat to Hawaii on November 30 where the Black Knights completed 5-of-11 passes for 127 yards and two interceptions. Jemel Jones went three-for-4 for 43 yards and one interception while Christian Anderson completed one-of-four for 15 yards. Sandon McCoy (91 yards on 15 rush attempts, two TDs) and Christian Anderson (114 yards on 12 carries) spearheaded the ground attack while Michael Roberts (two receptions, 11 yards) and Artice Hobbs IV (one catch, 69 yards) handled the receiving duties in the defeat.
Navy just picked up a 56-41 win over Houston. As a group, the team collectively completed two-of-four passes for 107 yards. Malcolm Perry went two-for-four for 107 yards while Carlinos Acie was -of- for yards. Perry (146 rushing yards on 18 attempts, one TD) handled the running game as Keoni-Kordell Makekau (one receptions, 60 yards) led the pass-catching corps in the win.
Army West Point has run the ball on 85.3 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Navy has a rush percentage of 87.6 percent. The Black Knights have run for 311.7 yards per game and have 44 touchdowns on the ground this year. The Midshipmen are putting up 360.8 rush yards per game and have 48 total rushing TDs.
If the numbers so far this season can translate to this game, then the Midshipmen ought to own an edge in terms of RB efficiency. Their backfield has produced 6.0 yards per carry while the defense has allowed a YPC of 3.4 to opponents. The Black Knights have recorded 5.4 yards per carry while allowing a YPC of 4.2 to opponents.
The Black Knights offense has tallied 86.8 yards per game through the air overall and has six passing TDs so far. The Midshipmen have produced 103.5 pass yards per contest and have eight total pass scores.
Defensively, Army West Point appears to have the upper hand when it comes to limiting the pass. The team has let opponents rush for an average of 144.1 yards and pass for 193.8 yards per game. The Navy D has allowed 232.6 yards per game to opposing passers and 109.7 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to opponents, as the Black Knights have given up an ANY/A of 6.33 to opposing QBs, while the Midshipmen are allowing an ANY/A of 6.59.
Offensively, Hopkins Jr. is up to 521 passing yards on the year. He’s completed 28-of-68 attempts with four scores through the air and four interceptions. He’s got a 5.38 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number sits at 2.80 over the last two outings.
In the other huddle, Malcolm Perry has completed 34-of-64 passes for 865 yards, five TDs and three INTs. Perry’s ANY/A sits at 10.46 for the year and 10.42 over his last two outings.
Army West Point Black Knights vs. Navy Midshipmen Betting Pick
SU Winner: Navy, ATS Winner: Navy, O/U: Under
Betting Notes
- The Black Knights offense has tallied three pass plays of 40 yards or more, while the Midshipmen have put up eight such plays.
- The Army West Point defense has allowed five pass plays of 40 or more yards, while Navy has given up 13 such plays.
- The Army West Point offense has created 27 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Navy has created 41 such runs.
- The Black Knights defense has allowed 12 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Midshipmen have given up 10 such runs.
- The Navy defense has sacked opposing QBs 25 times this year. Army West Point has registered 20 sacks.
- As a team, Army West Point has rushed for 7.3 yards per attempt across its past three contests and 7.9 over its last two.
- Navy has averaged 5.7 yards per carry over its last three matchups and 6.4 over its past two.
- Over its last three matches, Navy is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The O/U for Army West Point’s previous game was 55.5. The over cashed in the team’s 52-31 defeat to Hawaii.
- In its last three games, Army West Point is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
- The Over/Under for Navy’s previous match was set at 56. The over cashed in the 56-41 victory over Houston.
- Navy has won eight of its last nine games SU, with a -32-point loss to Notre Dame on November 16th representing the one defeat over that span.
