Passing plays were scarce in last year's matchup between the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen, as the teams attempted to throw a combined total of eight times. Army, which finished fourth in the nation in rushing in 2020, ran the ball on 53 of its 54 offensive plays and shut out Navy 15-0 for its fourth win in five meetings. Owners of the second-best ground attack in the country this season, the Black Knights (8-3) likely will have a similar game plan when they face the Midshipmen (3-8) on Saturday in the 122nd edition of the Army-Navy Game.
Kickoff from MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET on CBS. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Black Knights at -7 in the latest Army vs. Navy odds. The over-under is set at 35.5, one of the lowest totals of the college football season. Before locking in any Navy vs. Army picks, be sure to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Over the past five-plus years, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of almost $3,700 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. It also enters the 2021-22 college football bowl season on a 43-29 run on all top-rated college football side picks. Anyone who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Army vs. Navy and just locked in its picks and Army-Navy Game 2021 predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model's Army-Navy Game picks. Here are the college football odds and betting lines for Navy vs. Army:
- Army vs. Navy spread: Army -7
- Army vs. Navy over-under: 35.5 points
- Army vs. Navy money line: Army -292, Navy +233
- ARMY: The total has gone under in five of Army's last five games against Navy
- NAVY: Navy is 4-1 ATS in its previous five games
Why Army can cover
This year, Army is a respectable 6-5 ATS and has covered in four of its five games away from home. The Black Knights have benefited from a prolific rushing attack that's helped them find success regardless of the venue. The Black Knights have totaled 43 rushing touchdowns, and only Air Force has more rushing yards. Navy doesn't have a go-to strategy on offense that's consistent, though.
Navy's limited personnel has made it hard for the Midshipmen to score. They average 20.4 points per contest and have tallied just 599 passing yards in 11 games. Despite ranking third overall in rushing attempts, they aren't a top-20 running team. Army secured a 15-point win and shut Navy out last year while holding the Midshipmen to 37 passing yards.
Why Navy can cover
The Midshipmen ran the ball 35 times in last year's matchup and figure to use a similar approach Saturday, as they possess the seventh-ranked rushing offense in the nation (228.8 yards). Navy is third in the country in overall attempts and carries per game, running the ball 645 times for an average of 58.6 per contest. Senior running back Isaac Ruoss has made 157 attempts for a team-leading 608 yards while sophomore quarterback Tai Lavatai has carried 150 times for 309.
On the other side of the ball, the Midshipmen are coming off a performance on Nov. 27 in which they allowed only 14 points in a victory at Temple after giving up 34 and 38 in their previous two games -- both losses. Navy recorded four of its 15 sacks on the season in the win and made seven tackles for loss. It also had four forced fumbles -- including one by senior cornerback Michael McMorris, who is tied for second in the nation with five this season.
How to make Army vs. Navy picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, projecting the teams to combine for 43 points. It also says one side of the spread has all the value in this rivalry matchup. You can only get the model's Army vs. Navy game pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Army vs. Navy? And which side of the spread has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Army vs. Navy spread to back, all from the advanced model that is up almost $3,700 on its top-rated college football spread picks, and find out.
