Army-Air Force
Saturday, Nov. 1
12:05 p.m. Eastern, 9:05 a.m. Pacific
CBS
Army-Air Force is part two of the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy college football competition, one of the special aspects of every college pigskin season. The schedule and rhythm are the same every year: Navy-Air Force is played several weeks into the season. Then comes Army-Air Force in early November. One month later, the Army-Navy Game is staged in December to complete the three-game series. While most of college football is geared toward conference championships and the College Football Playoff, the service academies compete in a distinctly different context for bragging rights which go far beyond one year. These are memories and achievements which last a lifetime. It’s why this is as important as any game on the college football slate in Week 10. It’s just that the kind of importance is different from playoff-level importance. It’s not a lesser importance, just a unique version of it.
Army and Air Force are trying to stay alive for the CIC Trophy
Air Force can only get a share, while Army is going for sole possession of the trophy
Because Air Force lost to Navy earlier this season, the Falcons can do no better than share a piece of the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy. They need to win this game and then have Army beat Navy to create a split in this series. Army, on the other hand, has not lost a CIC Trophy game this year. This is the Black Knights’ first game. If Army wins here and then beats Navy in a month, the Black Knights win the trophy outright and won’t share it.
Army Black Knights-Air Force Falcons Odds
Hear TJ Rives and Jason Powers break down this game on the 3Dog Thursday Podcast by clicking Play below:
Spread: Army +1.5 (-115), Air Force -1.5 (-105)
Total: 49.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Underdog moneyline: Army -105
The biggest thing to note in this game is the total, which is at nearly 50. This is not a normal situation for a service academy college football game. Academy games have often featured totals in the mid-30s because academy teams generally run the ball a lot and very rarely pass. Games are shorter in terms of total plays. Drives eat more clock. Teams have fewer possessions. Quick strike touchdowns are less likely. Games are played not to get 80-yard scores, but to get 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1 so that running the ball for a first down is more sustainable.
This year, the total of almost 50 points is a clear indicator that these defenses aren’t as good or robust as one would normally expect from academy teams. Air Force recently lost a 51-48 game to UNLV. Earlier this year, in the Air Force-Navy game, the final score was 34-31 for Navy. That’s 65 total points. It is no longer a given that an academy game will have fewer than 40 points, and in this case, the game might have more than 50 total points.
The spread bet is basically a pick ’em. The only way a spread bet covers without also winning on the moneyline is if Air Force wins by exactly one point. You might as well bet the moneyline for that reason. Which way should you bet? Neither team has been especially trustworthy or reliable this year. This is a game best enjoyed for its own sake, not for any betting component. Relish seeing these athletes play for themselves and their country. Other games are better opportunities for cashing a ticket.