In a battle of two schools that like running the football, Head Coach Troy Calhoun and the Air Force Falcons (+7) are set to face off against the Army West Point Black Knights (-7) at Blaik Field at Michie Stadium. CBS Sports Network will televise the action and the game is scheduled to get underway at 12:00 p.m. ET.
Air Force Falcons vs. Army West Point Black Knights Betting Preview
The Falcons head into this Saturday game as the underdog and are currently receiving 7 points. In order to take the home favorite, moneyline bettors would currently have to lay down $300 to win $100 back on the Black Knights (-300). The Falcons are getting +220 moneyline odds. Vegas has determined the over/under (O/U) to be 49.5 points. If Army West Point gets behind early, it will likely create a solid live betting scenario.
The game’s O/U has been driven a lot lower after opening at 53. The original line (-7) has remained consistent.
The Falcons are 4-3-1 against the spread (ATS) and are down 2.8 units so far. The team has recorded an O/U mark of 4-3. The surprising Black Knights have gained 6.2 units this season. The team is 5-2-1 ATS and the over has hit in five of its games.
The Falcons have gone a lousy 3-5 straight up (SU) in 2018 while the Black Knights are 6-2 SU.
When these two schools met a year ago, Army West Point won by three touchdowns 21-0.
The Falcons hope to get back on track after a 48-38 defeat to Boise State last week. Isaiah Sanders completed 10 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders (97 yards on 28 rush attempts, one TD) also led the ground attack. Andrew Smith (three receptions, 57 yards, one TD) and Joseph Saucier (two catches, 77 yards) shared the receiving duties in the defeat.
Army West Point is coming off of a 37-22 win over Eastern Michigan. Kelvin Hopkins Jr. completed seven-of-eight passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Darnell Woolfolk (89 rushing yards on 24 attempts, one TD) and the signal-caller Hopkins Jr. (105 yards on 23 carries) mounted the running attack while Jordan Asberry (two receptions, 57 yards, one TD) and Christan Hayes (two catches, 45 yards) led the pass-catching attack in the win.
Air Force has run the ball on 80.6 percent of its offensive possessions this year while Army West Point has a rush percentage of 88.8 percent. The Falcons have run for 256 yards/game and have 22 scores on the ground this year. The Black Knights are averaging 315 rush yards per game and have 27 total rushing TDs.
The Falcons offensive scheme has averaged 138 yards in the air overall and has seven passing TDs so far. The Black Knights have produced 91 pass yards per game and have six total pass scores.
Air Force has allowed opponents to rush for an average of 108 yards and pass for 258 yards per game. The Army West Point D has given up 225.9 yards per game to opposing passers and 96.9 yards per game to opposing runners. Both teams allow similar adjusted net yards per pass attempt (ANY/A) to the opposition, as the Falcons have given up an ANY/A of 8.55 to opposing QBs, while the Black Knights are allowing an ANY/A of 8.09.
Offensively, Sanders is up to 550 passing yards this season, and has connected on 57 percent of his 60 attempts with three scores through the air and two interceptions. Sanders has a 7.51 adjusted net yards per pass attempt overall, although that number is 16.71 over the past two games.
Kelvin Hopkins Jr. has completed 34-of-64 passes for 731 yards, six TDs and three INTs for Army West Point. His ANY/A sits at 10.62 for the season and 20.75 over his past two outings.
RELATED: Week 10 College Football Betting Odds and Predictions
Betting Pick: Air Force Falcons vs. Army West Point Black Knights
SU Winner – Army West Point, ATS Winner – Army West Point, O/U – Over
Click Here to Start Betting Today!
Notes
Betting Trends
The O/U for Air Force’s previous game was set at 57. The over cashed in the team’s 48-38 defeat to Boise State.
Air Force has produced 5.0 yards per carry over its past three games and 5.4 over its last two.
Army West Point has averaged 4.6 yards per carry over its last three contests and only 4.3 over its past two.
The Army West Point offense has lost two fumbles this season while Air Force has let seven get away.
In its last three matches, Air Force is 1-1-1 ATS and the over cashed in two of those three.
The Over/Under for Army West Point’s last match going into it was 48. The over cashed in the 37-22 triumph over Eastern Michigan.
In its last three contests, Army West Point is 2-1 ATS and the over cashed in each of those three.
Army West Point has won seven of its last eight games SU, with a -7-point defeat to Oklahoma on September 22nd representing the only loss over that span.
The Black Knights have made eight pass plays of 30+ yards while the Falcons have accounted for seven such plays.
The Air Force defense has allowed eight pass plays of 40+ yards, while Army West Point has given up five such plays.
The Air Force offense has created 11 rushing plays of 20+ yards, while Army West Point has created 15 such runs.
The Falcons defense has allowed 10 rushing plays of 20 or more yards, while the Black Knights have given up four such runs.
The Army West Point D has registered 14 sacks on the year while Air Force has 11.
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