2020 Army vs Navy Game Odds, Lines and Spread
- Army is a 6.5-point favorite versus Navy on Saturday, December 12th (3 pm EST)
- The Midshipmen have dropped four straight, and have been outscored by 46 points in the process
- See below for analysis, odds and a betting prediction
Fans of old school, smash mouth football are in for a treat this Saturday (Dec. 12, 3 pm EST). That’s because Army and Navy are set to clash at West Point, in a battle of two teams that want nothing more than to establish the run.
Navy vs Army Week 15 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Navy Midshipmen | +6.5 (-102) | +240 | Over 38.5 (-106) |
| Army Black Knights | -6.5 (-120) | -310 | Under 38.5 (-114) |
Odds taken Dec. 8th at FanDuel.
The 7-2 Black Knights are currently a 6.5-point favorite, in a matchup that features an extremely low total. The Army-Navy game has been an annual event since 1930, and Saturday will mark the first time since 1943 that it will take place at the U.S. Military Academy’s home field.
Also of note for this weekend’s contest, is the fact that President Donald Trump is expected to be in attendance.
Ground and Pound
Both teams live and die by the run, but the Black Knights commitment to keeping the ball on the ground is something else. They run at an 87.38% clip, and have only attempted 67 passes all season.
A look at the uniforms for this year’s Army-Navy game 👀
(via @ArmyWP_Football, @NavyAthletics) pic.twitter.com/Nxxpb3ZaWP
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 1, 2020
Last time out versus Georgia Southern, they threw the ball just once in a 1-point victory, and they’re averaging 59.2 rushing attempts per outing. Not surprisingly, they rank top-three in total rushing yards and rushing yards per game, while stopping the run isn’t exactly Navy’s forte.
Focused.#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/YQOBX5Frzm
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) December 8, 2020
The Midshipmen are allowing 212.6 rushing yards, 5.3 yards per carry, and 2.4 rushing TD per game. The matchup couldn’t be any better for Army, and we can expect them to run all over their storied rival.
A Sinking Ship
After an 11-2 season in 2019, that included a win in the Autozone Liberty Bowl, Navy has struggled immensely in 2020. They enter play on Saturday, losers of four straight, and have managed just 13 total points in their last two outings.
Kinley: It would be extra special to be able to beat them on their home field. Initially we were disappointed that we had to go to Army, but we shifted our mindset and it would be very special to beat them at their home stadium.
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) December 8, 2020
They’ve been outscored by a total of 46 points over their losing streak, and are being outgained by nearly 120 yards per contest this year. They rank 116th out of 127 teams on offense, and 81st on defense.
Even their rushing attack, which has long been their calling card, is struggling. They’re averaging just 3.7 yards per attempt, after gaining 6.1 yards per rush in 2019. They haven’t been able to replace the production Malcolm Perry left behind when he entered the NFL, and the team’s primary two quarterbacks this season are averaging less than 1.4 yards per carry.
The Black Knights meanwhile, are incredibly stout against the run, yielding just 3.9 yards rush rush, and 5 rushing TD this season. They’ve held six of their nine opponents to 23 points or less, and have won five of six overall.
Back the Black Knights
Last year’s win by Navy in this matchup snapped a three-year drought, but I like Army to reassert itself as the superior program on Saturday. Judging by the juice on the Black Knights side, I’m not alone. At -6.5 (-120), it’s only a matter of time before the line gets to -7. If you like Army act now, because a better number is not on the horizon.
We've got your 🔒 screen set.
Old and new 📲.#GoArmy | #BEATnavy | #TropicLightning pic.twitter.com/3P48rYLDRe
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) December 2, 2020
The Black Knights are more talented on both sides of the ball and have a significant advantage in the trenches. They should be able to run all over this porous Midshipmen defense, and clamp down on the Navy offense when they don’t have the ball.
Pick: Army Black Knights -6.5 (-120)
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
