CFB Saturday: Navy at Air Force: 10/3/20 College Football Picks and Prediction

Defensively, Navy is allowing their opponents to average 39.5 ppg on 476.5 total yards per game (193.5 passing yds/g; 283 rushing yds/g).

The Air Force Falcons were outstanding last season as the Falcons finished with an overall record of 10-2 with a 7-1 record in the Mountain West. Air Force was invited to the Cheez-It Bowl and defeated the Washington State Cougars by a 31-21 margin. Air Force originally only had games scheduled against Navy & Army this season after the Mountain West originally postponed the postpone the football season, however, earlier this week the Mountain West reversed that decided and the Falcons and the rest of the Mountain West will play an 8-game slate starting on October 24th.

Offensively, Air Force was led by their rushing attack that helped the Falcons average 34.1 ppg. The Falcons averaged 421.8 total yards per game (123.2 passing yds/g; 298.5 rushing yds/g). Air Force lost a bunch of starters on the offensive end, however, they do return a few of the key pieces from their dynamic offense. QB Donald Hammond III returns after completing 50.5% of his passes for 1316 yards (101.2 yds/g), 13 TD & 6 INT. Hammond III also led the team in rushing TD’s with 13 and averaged 42.5 rushing yds/g. Also returning for the Falcons backfield is their leading rusher in Kadin Remsberg (181 att, 1092 yards, 8 TD) & Timothy Jackson (122 att, 745 yards, 6 TD). Air Force will no longer have their top two receivers in Geraud Sanders (30 rec, 746 yards, 7 TD) & Benjamin Waters (22 rec, 658 yards, 7 TD) and will hope a few players can step up this season to provide a passing threat for Hammond III and the Falcons.

Defensively, Air Force held their opponents to an average of 19.9 ppg on 319.6 total yards per game (219.1 passing yds/g; 100.5 rushing yds/g). The Falcons lost a bunch of talent in the secondary and will be led this season by LB Demonte Meeks & DE Jordan Jackson.

The Midshipmen are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games and 13-2 ATS in their last 15 Saturday games. The Falcons finished last season with an ATS record of 8-5 and 1-1 ATS as an underdog. 

Navy looked like they were in for another blowout loss, however, the Midshipmen finally looked more like the team we were expecting to see in the 2nd half when they dominated Tulane on both sides of the ball. Air Force was outstanding last season and still should be a solid football team this season, however, they did lose important players on both sides of the ball and I think the defense is going to take a step back this season. Air Force should once again be solid in their running game this season, however, as they have a lot of inexperience on both ends of the ball, I expect the Falcons to struggle a bit in this one as it will be their first live-action game this season and that Navy does enough in this one to get the win. I am taking Navy on the money line here.  Good Luck.