by Chuck Sommers
Tuesday, Dec 07, 2021
Game time: 3 p.m. ET
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Where to watch: CBS
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Army -7.5
BetMGM: NL
Caesars: Army -7.5
Season record
Army: 8-3
Navy: 3-8
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Army - Navy preview and analysis
Last week
Army: won 31-16 at Liberty
Navy: won 38-14 at Temple
The long-running success of the Army Black Knights against the Navy Midshipmen will continue on Saturday.
For the 122nd time, the Army-Navy game will be played on a football field and will decide who reigns supreme in the ultimate rivalry of our armed forces. No disrespect to Air Force, but there is apparent disrespect to Air Force.
Should things go the way they've been the last five years, as expected, this will be an Army victory.
It doesn't have as much to do with Army being the better team; that is already a given. After three straight tough losses to Wake Forest, Wisconsin and Ball State, Army bounced back with four straight wins including against Air Force and Liberty. That win against the Flames might have been Army's best of the season with Christian Anderson throwing for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Army can clinch the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy with a win, and it would be the fifth win for coach Jeff Monken against Navy in his eighth season. The Black Knights closed the season 3-1 ATS and that includes covering as 51.5-point favorites against Bucknell at home on Nov. 13.
But while Army is understandably touchdown-and-some-change favorites, Navy has been the sportsbook darlings this season at 7-4 against the spread. Some of those matchups have included being 28.5-point underdogs to the College Football Playoff-bound Cincinnati Bearcats; 13.5-point dogs against SMU; and 20-point dogs on the road against Houston.
Navy closed out its season with a 38-14 win at the Temple Owls where the Midshipmen were favored for the first time all season (-13.5). Carlinos Acie ran for 86 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
While the Midshipmen won't be playing in a bowl, Army has accepted an invite to the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 22 in Fort Worth against the Missouri Tigers. Don't be shocked when Army is favored in that game, too.
Prediction
Don't underestimate Ken Niumatalolo against the Army. The Navy head coach is 9-4 all-time despite the recent run by Army, but given how unpredictable Navy has been against the spread, I'd say this is something to consider. Army wins, but Navy keeps it close. Army by 6
Betting trends
Navy is 13-4 ATS in its last 17 off an over.
Navy is 12-4 ATS after a stretch of covering two of three.
Army is 1-5 ATS as a favorite this season.
Army is 19-41 ATS in its last 60 off a bye week.
Statistical leaders
Army:
Passing: Christian Anderson – 545 yards, 5 TD
Rushing: Tyrell Robinson – 582 yards, 3 TD
Receiving: Isaiah Alston – 384 yards, 3 TD
Navy:
Passing: Tai Lavatai – 367 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Isaac Ruoss – 608 yards, 5 TD
Receiving: Mychal Cooper – 191 yards, 2 TD
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
