Army Vs Navy: The Greatest Rivalry in College Football
If you are a College Football fan you probably know about the Army, Navy rivalry, and you probably watch it since it is such a big rivalry they give it its own week! Army, Navy is the greatest rivalry, not because they have great teams, but because they are the future protectors of the country, hold high respect for each other, and would most likely rather go 1-11 and beat the other one, than go 10-2 and lose to the other one. They even have a competition where you go to the other academy, and try to steal the other team's mascot. So let’s go over the greatest rivalry in College Football.
While both aren’t the strongest teams, but they do have even records. Navy has a record of 5-6 and Navy has only played two ranked teams all year which was a lose to #15 Notre Dame who is extremely overrated 42-3, and a lose to #17 SMU 59-14. Both Army and Navy are running schools, so I do not expect huge passing stats. Navy averages 18.27 points per game, and their opponents average 22.91 points in a game. Navy averages a below average of 6.41 yards per pass attempt, and 99 yards in a game. Their opponents average 7.99 yards per pass attempt, and 240.36 pass yards per game. But Navy averages 4.3 yards per carry, and an impressive 200.5 rushing yards per game. Their opponents average 3.6 yards per carry, and 121.9 rushing yards per game. Navy averages 4.8 yards per play, and 299.5 yards per game. Their opponents average 5.6 yards per play, and 362.3 yards per game. As you can see Navy is a rushing based team either on defense, or on offense, but Army is a little stronger on the pass, so now I’ll look into their stats.
Army is also 5-6 on the season with only 1 loss to a ranked team, which was #13 LSU 62-0, but knocked Air Force out of the rankings when they played them, and beat them 23-3. Army averages 20.82 points per game, while their opponents average 22 points per game. Army also has an average of 7.87 yards per passing play, and average 107.27 passing yards per game. Army’s opponents average 7.39 yards per passing play, and average 180.4 passing yards per game. Army averages 4.4 yards per rushing play, and average 208.5 rushing yards per game. Their opponents 5 yards per carry, and average 180.4 rushing yards per game. Army averages 5.1 yards per play, and average 315.7 yards per game. Their opponents average 7.39 yards per play, and average 369.2 yards per game. So now I’ll go over my prediction of the game.
So, Army has a chance to win the Commander in Chief Trophy, since they beat Air Force. (You can win, which is if you win 2 games, or retain, which is to win 1, but win the last year) I feel that Army’s passing will be too large of a difference in the game, so my prediction is Army winning 24-20.
Game Review
Army had less passing yards than Navy surprisingly, with only 54 yards passing, and 3.9 yards per pass attempt. While Navy had 179 passing yards, and averaged 6.2 yards per attempt. Though rushing went Army’s way as they had 205 yards on the ground, and averaged 4.4 yards per rush. Navy rushed for 130 yards, and averaged 3.7 yards per rushing attempt. Army’s total offense averaged 4.2 yards per play, while they had 259 yards in the game, but Navy averaged 4.8 yards per play, and had 309 yards in the game. (And no this is not a typo) The reason Army won with less yards is because in the 4th quarter with 4:49 left. If you included the defense, Army would add on 44 more yards, because it was returned for a touchdown. Also in the red zone, in the 1st quarter, Navy threw an interception.