Army and Navy meet for the 119th time on Saturday (2 p.m. CT, CBS) at Lincoln Financial Field, and since it's the only game on the FBS slate, bettors are interested. The two option teams haven't played many high-scoring games in recent years. The UNDER has cashed in 12 straight meetings between the military academies with an average combined score of 36 points. The point spread as of Thursday is Army -7, with the total set at 40. Considering the UNDER has cashed 12 straight times and the Army-Navy Game hasn’t had a combined score over 41 points since 2011, it's the obvious bet to make. However, the total is so low, the OVER has some value this year. Navy didn’t have any games go UNDER 41 points this season, and Army went UNDER that total only once, against Air Force. One reason games between the military academies tend to be low scoring is because all three football teams run the option. Not many programs run the option anymore, so teams aren't used to seeing it nor do they have the patience to defend it it. Army, Navy and Air Force defend the offense all the time in practice, so it's easier for them to defend. One thing going against that theory in Saturday's game is Navy having a down season, especially on the defensive side of the ball. When Navy played Air Force this year, the teams [combined for 42](https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/boxscores/2018-10-06-air-force.html) points. However, Air Force put up 35 of those points and finished with 257 rushing yards. While the Falcons are a good rushing team, ranking fifth in the nation at 283 yards per game, Army is even better, ranking second at 303 yards. That could spell doom for a Navy defense that allows 189 yards per game on the ground. Recent history says the game will go UNDER, but if Navy can't stop Army's option attack, it will be hard for the number to come in below 40. __More CFB:__ [Updated Heisman Trophy odds](https://www.betchicago.com/college-football-betting) ## Army vs. Navy betting lines __Point Spread:__ Army -7 __Total:__ 40 __Line movement:__ While the point spread has bounced between 6.5 and 7 in early betting action, the total logically moved toward the UNDER. The Westgate opened the total at 41, and it was bet down to as low as 39.5 before settling back at 40 midweek. __Freeroll:__ [Army-Navy pick 'em contest](https://betchicago.chalkline.com/games/army-navy) ## Navy betting overview __SU record:__ 3-9 __ATS record:__ 4-8 __O/U record:__ 7-5 Nothing has gone right for the Midshipmen this year. Navy is having its worst season since 2002, when it went 1-10 in the regular season but was able to close strong with an upset over Army. Navy has lost eight of its last nine games by an average of 15.63 points. Even in a down year, Navy can still run the football. The Midshipmen are averaging 288.9 rushing yards per game, which ranks third, right behind Army. The big problem facing Navy in this game is [Army enters with the 12th ranked rushing defense](https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/24), giving up just 106.5 yards. If Navy can't run the ball, they can't win. The Midshipmen rank dead last in the country in passing at just 72.2 yards per game. Kyler Murray usually eclipses that number midway through the first quarter. Defense could be the biggest difference in this game. Navy's defense isn't very good, allowing 34.9 ppg. The Midshipmen recorded just nine sacks this season, fewest in FBS, although that won't matter as much versus an Army team that rarely throws. ## Army betting overview __SU record:__ 9-2 __ATS record:__ 6-4-1 __O/U record:__ 6-5 While Navy is struggling, Army is having its best season since 1996. But the Black Knights' schedule would make Alabama envious. Still, Army finished the year with seven straight victories, including a win over Air Force in Week 10. There's only one team that throws for fewer yards per game than Army, and Knights face them on Saturday. Army ranks just ahead of Navy with 81.4 passing yards per game. While Navy has struggled to find a quarterback to run its option attack, Army QB Kelvin Hopkins Jr. has emerged as a star. Hopkins threw for 895 yards with six touchdowns and three interceptions, while rushing for 783 yards (second on the team) and adding another 10 touchdowns. Defense is the biggest reason for Army's 9-2 season. The Black Knights hold opponents to just 18.7 points per game, 17th-fewest in FBS. Ask Oklahoma if Army's defense is legit. The Black Knights' held the historic Sooners' offense to [28 points (21 in regulation) and 355 yards](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/oklahoma-vs-army-score-no-5-sooners-beat-black-knights-in-ot-escaping-a-scare-no-one-saw-coming/) -- both season lows. Oklahoma scored at least 37 points and in every other game it played this year. __Play and Win:__ [Sign up for our free contests](https://betchicago.chalkline.com/) ## Army vs. Navy trends • Navy is 0-4 ATS in its last four games vs. Army. • The underdog is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings. • UNDER is 16-5 the last 21 meetings. ## Army vs. Navy pick against spread The phrase "you can throw the records out the window" probably gets thrown around too much. But there's no series in the history of sports where that phrase is more accurate than Army-Navy. Records mean nothing when these teams play. Having said that, the lean here is to Army. Air Force showed what happens to Navy when a team stops the run and runs it right at them, winning by four touchdowns. If Navy can't run the football, it's going to be a long day. While Army doesn't throw it much, Hopkins is far better than any quarterback Navy has used this season. Army's defense wins this game and covers the seven points. ## Army vs. Navy advanced metrics prediction The S&P+ projected margin of victory is Army by 8.2 points. Note: S&P+ rankings are an advanced data set of tempo- and opponent-adjusted components of the five factors of college football: Efficiency, explosiveness, field position and finishing drives. Per creator Bill Connelly, a fifth factor, turnovers, is informed marginally by sack rates. __Contests:__ [Play them all](https://betchicago.chalkline.com/games)