The race for the 51st Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy begins Saturday when the Navy takes on the Air Force. The annual award given to the team with the best record from the three service academies (including the Army) is one of the great highlights and traditions of college football, and after a 2021 season where all three schools split the series for the fifth time, the excitement for an outright winner is higher than ever.
The Army “retained” the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy following the split, but this retention was met with some disappointment as it was the Navy’s upset victory in the Army vs. Navy game at the end of the season. which led to the three schools having a 1-1 record in the series. The Navy is looking to bring the same friendly approach to Saturday’s showdown in Colorado Springs, Colo., as the Air Force has won three of the last four meetings against the Midshipmen and enters the game as heavy favorites.
While some rivalry games include the phrase “throw away the record books”, it’s actually those books themselves that speak to the pride of that particular match in the history of the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy. The Air Force (20) and Navy (16) have combined for 36 of the 45 outright wins in series history, and in each season from 1997 to 2016, the winner of that matchup would win the title. trophy. . This is therefore not only the first edition of the coveted series of rivalries, but potentially the most impactful to determine the winner.
How to watch Navy vs Air Force live
Date: Saturday, Oct. 1 | Time: Noon ET
Location: Falcon Stadium — Colorado Springs, Colorado
TV: SCS | Direct: CBSSports.com, CBS Sports app (Free)
Navy vs Air Force: need to know
The air force attack is dominant on the ground: The Air Force led the nation in a rush in 2020 and 2021, so it’s no huge surprise to see the Falcons lead the nation here again for four weeks of the season. But even for this program, the 2022 season got off to a special start. The Falcons are currently averaging 412.3 rushing yards per game, more than 80 yards per game above the title rushing averages of the past two seasons. The 2022 average is likely to regress a bit with more games added to the season totals, but the fact that the Air Force is leading the way shouldn’t come as a surprise. This is an offense that had a really off day in a loss to Wyoming, but was so effective that there were two games the Falcons didn’t kick.
The navy run defense is a highlight of the 1-2 start: The contenders got off to a 0-2 start but rallied to claim their first victory of the year in a 23-20 double-overtime victory at ECU. But what’s been strong all season, even after losses to Delaware and Memphis, has been the run defense. The Navy currently ranks fifth nationally, giving up just 69 yards per game and 2.33 yards per rushing attempt, and much like the Air Force’s rushing offense, that kind of performance isn’t what that is expected in this match force against force in a game of rivalry. The Navy has a slight advantage against its service academy rivals due to familiarity, but this year the midshipmen have been strong against the run, and that gives them their best chance of winning.
A Rubber Match in the Coaches Rivalry: Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun are two of the top 25 winningest active coaches in college football and currently rank in the top six on the active list of coaches who have won all of their games in a school. Calhoun has won three of the last four games, but the series between the two coaches is tied 7-7, with Saturday’s game breaking the tie.
Navy vs. Air Force Prediction, Choose
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
Since 2005, under betting in games between service academies has been 41-9-1. Two heavy teams playing against each other means the clock doesn’t stop often and the number of possessions is limited. Also, both defenses are used to playing against optional attacks, so the big plays aren’t going to hit as often. Totals for these games have dropped since the trend began in 2005; it’s much harder to see unders hit in the 30s than in the 40s or 50s, but we’re following the trend. Prediction: Under 38
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