Army Black Knights vs. Temple Owls Prediction 9/26/24 NCAAF Week 5 Pick Today

Air Force vs Army Prediction 11/2/24 for Saturday’s NCAAF Week 10 Picks

Air Force vs. Army Preview 11/2/24 Game Info

 

When: Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 12 ET/9 PT
Where: Michie Stadium (FieldTurf) 
Air Force vs Army Line: Army -21.5
Total: 42
TV: CBS/Paramount+

 

Air Force vs. Army Preview

Only one team in FBS has no wins against The Spread (ATS) and only one team has no losses ATS and they will be banging helmets on Saturday when No. 23 Army (7-0) plays host to Air Force (1-6 SU) at Michie Stadium (FieldTurf) in West Point, New York (CBS/Paramount+, 12 pm ET/9 am PT). New AAC members the Black Knights have broken the mold of being a one-dimensional team and now actually aren’t scared of passing the football. Army (40.2 ppg) ranks No. 7 in the nation in scoring, while the Cadets only put up an average of 14.3 ppg, and rank 132nd of 134 teams in FBS in that category. So you can see why the point spread is so high here in this game.

Anemic Offense Will Doom the Flyboys

It will take some kind of miracle for the Air Force to win this showdown between two of the three FBS service schools. Perhaps they let the Cadets fly F-22 Raptors while Army is stuck in tanks on the ground? In this crazy year when Army and Navy have suddenly blossomed like sea monkeys—they are a combined 13-1—even F-22’s might not be enough to beat the Army. Air Force used to be a pretty good team getting the ball up the field, but recently they have struggled creating offense and points and no one but Purdue (5.7 ppg) has averaged less points at Home than AFA (9.0 ppg). The Cadets are led by QB John Busha (5 interceptions, 11.6 QBR, #129), RB Cade Harris (28 receptions, 212 yards, 4.6 ypc), and WR Quin Smith (11 receptions, 216 yards, TD, 19.6 ypc). So the three have accounted for 5 TDs all year. Boise State RB and Heisman Trophy contender Ashton Jeanty ran for 6 in one game against Georgia Southern. Got milk?

Air Force Trends

  • Air Force’s only win came in its opener vs. FCS school Merrimack 
  • Cadets QB John Busha has thrown for just 415 yards and one TD
  • Air Force has now lost 11 straight Regular Season games ATS
  • The under is a perfect 10-0 in the last 10 series meetings
  • The most points AFA has scored vs. Army in the last seven meetings is 17

Army Looking to Stay Unbeaten with Tough Schedule Ahead

How can Army lose seems like a much better question. The Black Knights QB Bryson Dailey has rushed for 19 TDs while Air Force’s QB has rushed for one. I have rushed for 0 but I am 91 years old, have six canes and am sitting in a chair looking at a PC. Army has played some great football in its first season in the AAC, and are legitimately in the College Football Playoff race and may be a team no one would want to play come late December. Army (9 interceptions) ranks No. 9 in FBS in Turnover margin, but surprisingly has no fumble recoveries. So it’s pretty strange to see Army undefeated in November with no fumble recoveries, in a conference and possibly making the first-ever CFP. But then again, this has been the weirdest year ever and if they can beat Navy twice, everyone will be talking about the Black Knights around Christmas. Beating Air Force here at home should be a breeze and a 24-7 score at halftime seems about right..

Army Trends

  • Army has covered tha last 5 series meetings with Air Force
  • Black Knights QB Daily has thrown for 629 yards, 7 TDs, and 0 interceptions and has the fourth-best QBR in FBS (89.7)
  • Army has held Air Force to an 9.7 ppg in the last seven meetings 
  • Black Knights QB Daily (6.6 ypc) also leads the team in rushing with 138 carries for 909 yards and 19 TDs
  • New American Athletic Conference member Army has never lost or not covered in conference (6-0 SU/ATS)

Army vs Air Force Prediction 11/2/24

Expect Army to be up by 20 or so in the second half by running the ball down Air Force’s throats and then milking the clock and saving some energy for future battles. And three of the next four will be hard with a date at North Texas (527.6 ypg, #3), in Week 11, No. 8 Notre Dame (7-1) coming to town two weeks later, and that classic annual game against Navy (6-1) on Dec. 14 to end the FBS Regular Season. Here, expect Dailey to rush for three TDs and his team to score between 38 and 41 while holding listless Air Force to between 10 and 14. So if you are expecting an 11th straight under in this series, the weather (57°) and Army’s offense won’t be your best friends on Saturday. “Then it’s Hi! Hi! Hey! The Army’s on its way. Count off the cadence loud and strong For where e’er we go, You will always know That the Army goes rolling along…” Hunker down brother. Army minus the points is your free college football pick.

Kevin’s Pick: Army -21.5