Army vs Navy Prediction, Game Preview, and Betting Lines

Originally posted on College Football News
By Pete Fiutak | Last updated Dec 11, 2024 4:56 AM ET

In the argument about whether or not SMU, Alabama, or Miami deserved to be the 12th team in the expanded College Football Playoff, maybe the answer was … Army?

Would it have mattered if the Knights come up with a 12th win over a solid Navy team that’s off to the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl? The Midshipmen struggled a bit down the stretch losing three of four before closing out with a win over East Carolina.

Army is off to the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl against Marshall after rolling through everyone but Notre Dame on the way to the American Athletic Championship.

This isn’t an AAC game - it’s a true exhibition game being played as the bowl season gets underway. But, of course, this game occupies a unique space all its own.

Army vs Navy: How to Watch and Game Preview

Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024
Game Time: 3:00 pm
How To Watch: CBS
Venue: Northwest Stadium, Landover, MD
Teams: Army (11-1), Navy (8-3)
Fiu Bluesky | CFN Bluesky | CFN X | CFN FB

Why Navy Will Win

Navy, just do what you do, and that includes a little more happening through the air.

If this comes down to who can throw better, Navy is a bit more proven. The deep plays are there, the O was able to crank up over 200 passing yards twice, and that all goes with the always strong running game.

No, Navy doesn’t have the ground attack Army has, and it doesn’t move the chains as easily or control the clock, but it’s used to that. The Midshipmen will mix it up a little more than Army will, it’ll be fine on third downs and keep the clock moving more than normal, and …

Why Army Will Win

Army has been flawless.

Navy doesn’t get hit with a lot of penalties. Army is third in the nation in fewest penalties. Navy isn’t great at converting third down chances, and it’s not the type of team that dominates the clock like past versions. Army owns games by coming up with plenty of third-and-short situations and always coming through.

But it’s that time of possession aspect that matters. Navy will go a little quicker, while Army - No. 1 in the nation - will keep the ball for close to 36 minutes.

And then there’s the turnover factor. Army has only given the ball away five times on the season, and Navy has turned it over 12 times in the last five games so …

Army vs Navy: Who Will Win?

You know exactly how this game works.

Even in years when one side is clearly better than the other, this is always a low-scoring game that comes down to a few plays. One mistake could be it - the point total hasn’t pushed past 40 since 2013.

No, Army doesn’t take the ball away, but Navy is great at forcing mistakes. It makes up for a slew of other issues with takeaways with 20 on the year. Army has come up with 19.

Again, you know what’s going to happen. It’ll be a grind, possessions will be at a premium, and even with the rivalry aspect, Army will be a bit better at what it does than Navy will be at what it does.