Who takes home the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy?

A pair of 5-6 teams getting together normally would not excite, but this is America’s Game - Army versus Navy.  

The two service academies have their 124th meeting Saturday afternoon, traveling to New England and hosted by a new venue. Game time at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., is 3 PM ET.

It’s just the third time this game has been played outside the mid-Atlantic region (Chicago - 1926, Pasadena - 1983).

Starting poorly, Army is coming into this game with momentum on the strength of three wins in a row (including a 23-3 victory at Air Force). Navy was drilled at Southern Methodist in its last game, snapping a modest two-game winning streak by the Midshipmen. Navy surrendered 28-first quarter points against the Mustangs. 

Army is a 2.5 point favorite (total at a paltry 27.5), according to college football odds. The moneyline is Black Knights -150, Midshipmen +130. 

Navy is leading the series, 62-54-7 (Army was 20-17 winner in double-overtime last season). Navy (25.2 points/game) and Army (25.3) are next to each other (54th/55th) in scoring defense.  

Army’s "Daily" Regimen

The Army Black Knights run the football a ton, This isn’t news. However, junior quarterback Bryson Daily (859 passing yards, six touchdowns, six interceptions) has had some moments through the air. This doesn’t suggest Daily (team-leading 817 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) is abandoning how he and his team primarily move the ball. 

Daily did riddle the Air Force to the tune of 170 rushing yards. Noah Short (18 receptions, 253 yards, two touchdowns) would be Army’s best downfield threat. 

Defensively, the Knights have surrendered just 38 points during their win streak (3,14,17).

Run, Middies, Run

That the service academies rank first (Air Force 54½), third (Army 49.2) and fifth Navy (46.9), respectively, in rushing attempts per game is sort of a given. Army has some semblance of a passing game. Navy doesn’t.

Quarterback Tai Lavatai (522 passing yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions has just 75 attempts in his seven games this season, while Alex Tezca (724 rushing yards, five touchdowns) leads the ground game. Wideout Eli Heidenreich (15 receptions, four touchdowns) can’t be ignored. 

While no one is confusing Army’s offense with that of SMU, those 59 points to the Mustangs is quite concerning.

It’s Knight Time

There are any number of prop bets available on this game, as per Army vs. Navy wagers.

Army’s Bryson Daily looms as the best player in this game, a threat first on the ground and a viable option through the air. Expect the Black Knights to hit on a big pass play at some point. 

Take the Army Black Knights -2.5 to win this edition, leaving with the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. Go over against this small total.