Army-Navy: Spread, Total, Breakdown and Best Bet for Interservice Rivalry

Similar to apple pie, the annual Army-Navy Game is an American tradition beloved by nearly everyone.

In 2023, the interservice rivalry between the Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen will be hosted at Gillette Stadium -- home of the New England Patriots. This will be the first time in history that the academies meet within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Entering the weekend, both sides are 5-6 so far this season. Not only will this game decide yearly bragging rights, but it will also decide who finishes the 2023 campaign under .500 and who does not.

Get ready for the 124th installment of the Army-Navy Game; these two have been battling on the gridiron since just after the Industrial Revolution. Let's dive into the odds and lines for this Saturday with an emphasis on the most valuable of the traditional betting markets.

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

Army-Navy Betting Odds: Spread, Moneyline and Total

Kickoff: Saturday (Dec. 9), 12 p.m. ET on CBS

Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA

Spread: Army -2.5 (-122)

Moneyline:

• Army: -146
• Navy: +122

Total: 28.5 (-102/-120)

Army-Navy Matchup Analysis

Since the mid 1980s, this service academy clash has always been held in early December. It has proven a wise decision as there typically is no other college football played at that time. For 2023, conference championships have already been completed and bowl season has not kicked off just yet.

I mentioned that this weekend's lone FBS game will be held just outside Boston, but this series is most frequently hosted in Philadelphia; the "City of Brotherly Love" serves as an equidistant location for Army's academy in West Point, NY and Navy's in Annapolis, MD. Still, the two will head to the "House that Brady and Belichick Built" this time around.

The Black Knights are led by head coach Jeff Monken, who is wrapping up a full decade commanding Army's football program. Over than span, he has produced an impressive 4-1 record in bowl games -- although they did not gain eligibility for 2023. Either way, Army is currently riding a three-game winning streak.

For the Midshipmen, Brian Newberry is about to complete his first season as head coach. As a former defensive back for the Baylor Bears in the mid '90s, Newberry was promoted to Midshipmen HC after spending the past three years in house as defensive coordinator. Simply, he is well aware of the intensity produced when Army and Navy get together, but this Saturday will be the first one on Newberry's coaching record.

As always, both sides will be hoping to "sing second" in this bid, but the rivals have alternated victories dating back to 2018; the Black Knights won a 20-17 double-overtime affair last year. In the present, Navy comes into this game after a demoralizing loss to the Southern Methodist Mustangs.

At FanDuel Sportsbook, Army is currently favored by 2.5 points. These games have gone either way recently, but I respect that line knowing that Black Knights quarterback Bryson Daily is more capable than his opposite number; Daily leads Army with seven rushing scores in 2023 to go with 817 yards on the ground. He will look to sink Navy's ship behind a dynamic running game.

Navy will attempt to bombard Army's triple-option scheme with a respectable defensive front. Showing stout in the current campaign, the Midshipmen are allowing only 3.7 yards per carry. Of the bunch, sophomore outside linebacker Luke Pirris (team-high 9 TFL) is the most explosive. Transparently, this weekend should make for an especially physical matchup.

As alluded to, Navy quarterback Xavier Arline had a rough go of it in Dallas last time out. In a lopsided loss to SMU, Arline was benched after failing to complete a pass. This Saturday in Foxborough, he (or whoever starts at QB) will need to keep eyes out for rover defender Leo Lowin; the speedster has forced three fumbles in the past three games.

For the record, Navy holds the upper hand in this all-time series, 62-54-7.

Army-Navy Best Bet

Under 28.5 (-120)

When it comes to sports betting, I am a firm believer of the saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Notably, unders in service academy games -- especially the ones in December -- are the gift that keeps on giving. Since 2005, the under has gone 45-9-1 (81.9%) in games involving any combination of Army, Navy and the Air Force Falcons. Navy and Army have both already faced Air Force this year, and the under prevailed in both contests.

Even against a low bar of 28.5 total points, it feels foolish to try and buck this prevalent trend right now. On a cold and cloudy day in New England, the under (at -120 odds) still feels most wise. With dueling triple-option offenses on hand, expect the game clock to move expeditiously. The Midshipmen and Black Knights are averaging a combined 94.5 rushing attempts per game. Of course, it is very possible we see 100 total carries in this game for the second straight season.

At numberFire, under 28.5 is viewed as a five-star play. As our only bit of CFB action this Saturday, it is tough to convince myself into a different wager here. With that considered, an upset by Navy (+122 moneyline at FanDuel Sportsbook) would not surprise me in the slightest.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.