College football’s greatest rivalry will break new ground on Saturday when the Army West Point Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen meet in Foxborough, Massachusetts. It will be the first time in the series’ 124-year history that the Army-Navy Game will be played in New England. Army is a slight favorite in what is expected to be a low-scoring affair (over/under around 28).
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Regardless of how many points are scored, the whole country and many more overseas will tune in on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET when the Army-Navy Game kicks off from Gillette Stadium. Per usual, CBS will handle the broadcast.
Besides the privilege of singing second, the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy also is on the line. Army can claim the hardware that goes to the winner of the annual gridiron series between the service academies with a win over Navy. But a Midshipmen victory will result in a three-way tie because of Air Force’s triumph victory over Navy earlier this season (Army defeated Air Force 23-3). In that scenario, the Falcons would retain the trophy because they claimed it last season. Army won the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy outright in 2020 (retained in 2021), while Navy last possessed it in 2019.
Additionally, this year’s Army-Navy Game winner will finish the season with a .500 record. Even though both teams are 5-6, neither will go bowling this season – Army has two wins over FCS teams, making the Black Knights ineligible, while the Midshipmen didn’t have enough victories by Selection Sunday to be considered for a postseason berth – so this game also serves a final send-off for seniors.
There’s no real mystery regarding the game plans for these two teams. Typically, whichever runs the ball more effectively and prevents the other team from doing the same usually wins. This season, both Army and Navy rank among the top 15 rushing offenses in the nation, with each averaging more than 200 yards on the ground per game.
When these teams take to the air, the Midshipmen have been more successful, highlighted by a 9:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio (Black Knights are at 6:11), but keep in mind that the only FBS team that has thrown for fewer yards than either this season is Air Force.
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The biggest difference lies on the other side of the ball. Navy is 30th overall in rushing defense, giving up 121.9 rushing yards per game and only 12 touchdowns on the ground. Army hasn’t been as stingy against the run, giving up nearly 60 yards more per game (180.5, 116th) and close to 1.5 yards more per carry (5.0 vs. 3.6).
Special teams could also play a big role, especially in field position. Navy appears to have a significant advantage in the punting game. The Midshipmen rank 32nd in net punting, while the Army checks in at No. 112. But the Black Knights have a leg up regarding field goals. Quinn Maretzki has connected on 11 of his 13 attempts compared to the Black Knights’ tandem of Nathan Kirkwood and Evan Warren (7-for-13). A big play or a big mistake in the often-forgotten third phase of the game could be pivotal.
Historically, Navy maintains a 62-54-7 edge in the series, but Army won last season – 20-17 in Philadelphia. This will be Brian Newberry’s first Army-Navy Game as head coach of the Midshipmen while Jeff Monken is in his 10th season as the Black Knights’ leader. He is 5-4 against Navy.
All odds from BetMGM. Looking for college football tickets? Find them here.
What are the odds for Army vs. Navy?
How to watch and stream Army vs. Navy
CBS has coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Authentication allows you to stream the game on Paramount+ and the CBS Sports app.
Expert Pick for Army vs. Navy
This rivalry has been pretty close since Navy won 14 straight games between 2002 and 2015 and then Army won three straight games. Now, the two teams have gone back and forth for the last four years and I think that trend continues this year with Navy beating Army. It’s the first rivalry game for Navy coach Brian Newberry and he’ll have some new looks for Army and I like Navy’s rushing defense. — Andrew DeWitt, Sports Betting editor
Austin Mock’s College Football Model projections
- Navy by 2 points
- Total points: 30
(Photo of Navy taking field in 2022: Edward Diller/Getty Images)