Navy Football: 3 bold predictions for 2017 Army-Navy game

Saturday, Dec. 9, is the 118th meeting between Army and Navy. Here are my three bold predictions for the Army-Navy Game.

The Army Black Knights are 8-3 and ranked 59th in the S&P+ rankings from Bill C. They lost to Ohio State, Tulane and the North Texas Mean Green. Their big wins have come against Duke and Temple. Army’s triple-option is more quarterback-based than fullback-based.

Ahmad Bradshaw has rushed for over 1,400 yards and added 11 touchdowns to that total. B-back Darnell Woolfork has added 600-plus yards and 11 touchdowns while missing three weeks in the middle of the season.

Army will use not only a tight end (Navy’s flexbone doesn’t usually use one) and also a pistol formation as well. The Army defense is ranked 81st by the S&P+. Army runs a 3-4 defense with a thicker run stopping end on one side and a speedier pass rusher on the other who can also drop into coverage.

Navy is having an off year by its standards. The Midshipmen are 6-5, starting off 5-0 before losing five of their last six games. Navy is ranked 78th overall by the S&P+. The Midshipmen’s schedule has been much more daunting than Army’s with the Middies taking on Notre Dame, UCF, Houston and Memphis who are all bowl bound programs.

Navy quarterback Zach Abey has thrown for 800 yards and seven touchdowns, adding 1,300 yards rushing and an additional 14 touchdowns on the ground. He’s a pivotal part of the offense only a year removed from the Army-Navy game being his first start of his career.

Navy runs a more traditional 30 personnel (3 backs, no tight ends) flexbone triple option offense. The Navy option is based around giving the B-Back (fullback) the football. The B-back is always the first option in Navy’s attack under Coach Ken. Navy’s offense is ranked 32nd by the S&P+. They also run a 3-4 defense which is ranked 101st by the S&P+ rankings.

Here are my three bold predictions for the Army-Navy Game.