America’s Game Army vs. Navy Preview

Ahead of the college football bowl games is America’s Game and the Army vs. Navy rivalry. I cover the game and what it means in my college football coverage on Forbes. Sit back and enjoy the pageantry of this great rivalry, the special uniforms displayed, and the meaning and motivation these teams and players fight for – beyond just the football field.

If you do wager, I bet Army (-2.5) and have since bought back Navy (+3) as I reviewed more along with information passed on to me. Also, the game total of 28 points is the lowest ever and you may remember the days when the oddsmakers set an Over/Under number in the range of 48-50 points. All that did was produce 16 straight games that went ‘under’ the total until last year’s 20-17 Navy win in double overtime that went ‘over’ after being tied 10-10 in regulation.

With all the big school conference rivalry games completed, it’s time to enjoy one of the biggest rivalries between the military academies.

The Army-Navy game is pageantry and patriotism, and a spectacle and showcase of college sports in its purest form. It’s a most meaningful game and event with the Army Corps of Cadets and Navy Brigade of Midshipmen marching on the field before taking their seats in the stands.

Army vs. Navy Odds and Betting Splits

🏈 Army vs. Navy Betting Splits Friday Update

43% of bets, 80% of money on Navy +2.5

28% of bets, 35% of money on the OVER

73% of bets, 90% of money on Army ML#gamblingtwitter #gamblingX https://t.co/gSGh7aLjQa pic.twitter.com/DKJBWqFSa8

— Odds and Picks (@OddsandPicks) December 8, 2023

Army Black Knights (5-6) vs. Navy Midshipmen (5-6)

Saturday, Dec. 9 – Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

Betting Line: Army -2.5, Game Total: 27.5 to 28.5

TV – CBS at 3:00pm ET, and also on Paramount+, CBSSports.com

Recent Army vs. Navy History

From 2002-2015, Navy beat Army 14 straight times. Army won the next two meetings as underdog, 21-17 and 14-13. In 2018, Army held all the edges as the favorite for the first time since 2001. The Black Knights (-7) won 17-10 outrushing the Midshipmen 222-127 and Navy kicking a field goal in the final 30 seconds for the point spread push. Navy snapped the 3-game skid in 2019 with a 31-7 win. Army shutout Navy 15-0 in 2020 and last year Navy won 17-13.

The Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy will be awarded to Army if they beat Navy in this year’s 2023 game and 124th edition of this great rivalry. Army beat Air Force 23-3 as an 18-point underdog on Nov. 4.

Regardless of the winner and loser, enjoy the old-fashioned purity of competition that remains unchanged by time and unencumbered by whatever complications are impacting college football. That includes the large pool of transfer players, and money that is driving conference realignment and impacting rivalries and expansion of the College Football Playoff from 4 teams to 12 teams next season. But fortunately, the Army-Navy game remains a spectacle and showcase of college sports in its purest form.

Read more in my coverage in Forbes from New England Patriots  long snapper Joe Cardona, who is a Naval Academy graduate and Lieutenant in the United States Naval Reserve.

“I’ve been fortunate to play in a lot of big games here in New England, but realistically all of them pale in comparison to those Army-Navy games,” said Cardona. “Army-Navy is one of those special events where you know that it’s such an important game for not only those on the field, but such an important game for those watching around the country. You think about those that are in the fleet — the sailors, the Marines, or the soldiers on the other side watching.”

Photo: USATSI through CBS Sports