Army-Navy Game: Will the Middies SEAL the Deal?

Published on 14-Dec-2019 by Sportbet Staff

Football - NCAA    NCAA Football Daily Stake

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Army-Navy Game: Will the Middies SEAL the Deal?

If college football has done right by anything, it's one of their oldest and most pageantry-adorned rivalries.

The Army-Navy game.

Once a major factor in determining mythical national championships, this game was never gonna follow the lead of mega-money and lower academic standards that -- for good and/or bad -- seeped into big-brand college football.

 

As such, it's now situated as the regular season's final game, an ornament to tradition and competition that transcends the gridiron:

 

This is the day where our nation's future defenders put aside the serious tasks of their training to have a bitta fun, and we're gonna have some fun with them.

Bovada has set the spread for the 120th Army-Navy game at Navy -11½ with the total at 41½ and the moneyline showing Army +350 and Navy -500.

Why bet on Army ...

The Black Knights of the Hudson endured a frustrating season, falling 'way short of the standards they'd been setting the past couple of years, which includes a three-game winning streak against Navy.

Army's hopes for a bowl game went up in the flames of a five-game losing streak and two FCS wins that means this is not only the pinnacle of their season, it's also the finale. As if they needed extra incentive, their seniors know that they've reached the end of their football careers.

Don't discount the extra motivation.

 

Dudes tuned up their ground game in those two late-season wins over FCS teams and racked up 411 yards against Hawaii in their last outing. However, they couldn't contain the Rainbow Warriors' run-&-shoot.

With their revived attack, though, they can stay close in most games.

 

Why bet on Navy ...

The Midshipmen only dropped two games this season, and they were to top opponents: Memphis and Notre Dame.

Even then, their ground game was impressive. QB Malcolm Perry went off for 1,500 yards and 19 scores, while Jamale Carothers contributed 637 and 13. In all, Navy ran for over 400 yards four times and over 300 yards in four other games, all while doing the things Navy is supposed to do. Like play sturdy defense, even though Houston ripped them for 41 points in their last game.

The difference between the Middies and Army, though, is they still had more than enough offense to win.

 

Instant analysis ...

Navy had strung together a 14-game winning streak in this rivalry before Army took command in recent seasons. Odds are strong they take the reins back this year.

Both sides are really doing the same disciplined things as always -- it's how they stay competitive against stronger programs -- but right now, Navy is doing them a whole lot better and sharper. Crucially, they have the defense to come up with stops that Army’s front seven won’t.

It'll be up to Black Knight pride to keep this one relatively close. Maybe the computer simulations think so -- even if they don't factor in the intangibles -- but I don't. Pride won't nearly be enough.

ATS Pick: Navy -11½
Totals Pick: under 41½

Bet at 5dimes

Results: Navy 31 Army 7 ... Midshipmen cover ATS and Total

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Sportbet Columnist: Noah Williams

Noah lives and works with a simple philosophy of “Eat, Drink, Football.” This is embodied through a dedication to satellite TV, Indian delivery, Folgers in his cup, and Budweiser. He lives in a secret lair with his beautiful concubine.