Week 9 of the college football schedule brings us one of the deepest rivalries in college football as Air Force and Army meet in Arlington, Texas. The Air force Falcons of the Air Force are playing good football, which finds them currently sitting at 5-3. Continue reading below to get our best Air Force vs Army Betting and much more.
They prepare to face the Army Black Knights of the Army, who had a rough start to the season but have found recent success finding them currently sitting at 3-4. Both teams are looking for a win to bump them up in the college football standings.
The first meeting of the two service academies on the field was back in 1959 in Yankee Stadium, which ended in a tie. Since then, the two have played 55 times, with Air Force having won 37 of those games.
However, Army is currently on a two-game winning streak against Air Force. Can they continue the recent trend?
Air Force Falcons vs. Army Black Knights
Anytime the service academies play together, it’s a big deal for a couple of reasons. The first is the emotions of the game.
Both college football teams represent academies in which the young people enrolled will put their lives on the line, and with the members of the other academies, each of them relying on the next to do their job to achieve the goal at hand.
But for one glorious afternoon, we throw all of that aside and watch the two put everything on the line to beat one another. The emotions in these games are unmatched.
Triple Option Offenses
The second is the matchup of triple option offenses against each other. Both of these squads utilize the same game plan on offense: a run-heavy attack that attempts to control the game via time of possession.
These teams will end with 15 passing yards a game and 42 points. It’s a style and brand of football not often seen in the modern setting, yet both of these teams utilize the attack to perfection.
It’s always fun to see the two go against each other as it tends to be a low-scoring hard, fought affair, with games between service academies finishing below the betting point total over 80% of the time, a trend to keep in mind while doing your Air Force vs Army betting.
Last Game
Air Force Record
Air Force’s last game was a loss against the Boise State Broncos in a 19-14 game. This puts the Falcons at 5-3 on the season. Air Force seemingly alternated between scoring a lot and a little each week this season.
They’ll put up 41 against Colorado and 14 against Wyoming. Though the level of competition is admittedly different, the volatility of the difference in the outcome should be worrisome, at the least.
Army Record
Army is coming off a 48-24 win over the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks, putting the Black Knights at 3-4 for the season.
Army struggled early in the season but have seemingly turned it around behind their new QB Jemel Jones who has started the past two games for Army, which they’ve both won.
Jones will look to lead an Army team with a newfound identity to a win over their service academy rivals.
Air Force vs. Army Analysis
On paper, the offenses are nearly identical. Both teams average around 28 points a contest and about 300 rushing yards a game.
Air Force is the best team when it comes to the time of possession, owning the ball for 59.71% of game time, while Army is the 11th best at 55.35%.
Army’s Defense
The place where Air Force has a real advantage is Army’s defense is leaving a lot to be desired so far this season.
The Black Knights are currently ranked #119 in opponents’ points per game at a whopping 35.8. They’re also giving up an average of 449 yards a game.
More concerning is that their run defense is atrocious, letting opponents average 5.5 yards a carry.
Air Force’s Defense
Meanwhile, Air Force’s Defense has looked stellar, ranking 7th in opponents’ points per game at 16.7 and 5th in opponents’ yards per game at 273.1.
I expect the public to capitalize on a weak Army defense this week when doing their Air Force vs Army betting.
However, I think the Army will be okay, given that they can practice against their own triple-option offense in the week leading up.
Odds Breakdown
Air Force
The Air Force football odds opened with the spreading being set with the Falcons as -7 point favorites. Air Force’s moneyline is currently priced at -273, and the point total is set at 40.
Army
The Black Knights enter the game with their moneyline at +219 for anyone interested in doing some Army football betting. They’ll be looking to cover the +7 spread Saturday in Arlington.
Air Force vs. Army Betting Pick and Prediction
Service academy games are close, hard-fought games, and though the Army defense may be lacking, there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic about them.
Army is experiencing a ton of success with Jemel Jones under center and has plenty of guys who can break off a crazy run.
I expect Army to hang around this game and for the game to ultimately be decided by three or fewer points. I like Army to cover +7.
NCAAF Pick: Army +7 (-105)
I know I keep saying it, but there is something about these service academy games that keep them close and low scoring.
Just a month ago, Air Force and Navy played a game that ended in a 13-10 Air Force win.
This result comes even though Navy is a horrendous football team this year, and as previously mentioned Air Force actually looks pretty good.
If you do any Air Force vs Army betting, and you don’t bet on the under, there’s likely a stat you’re not sharing with others, as the conventional wisdom points to the contrary.
NCAAF Pick: Under 40.5 (-110)
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