Army vs Navy

Navy’s senior quarterback Blake Horvath leads a 9-2 Midshipmen team that has steadied itself with back-to-back wins after a brief skid, while Army comes in at 6-5, having won three of its last four but still sitting in the low-20s in points per game over the past month and a half. The contrast in offensive ceilings is stark: Navy is averaging over 30 points behind the nation’s most productive rushing attack and a true dual-threat in Horvath, whereas Army leans almost entirely on Cale Hellums and a clock-draining option game that limits possessions but rarely creates explosive chunk plays. Horvath’s 300-plus yards and four touchdowns in last year’s 31-13 win over Army, combined with Navy’s consistent yardage edge in recent meetings and the added stakes of a Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy decider for a ranked Navy side already ticketed for a major bowl, give the Midshipmen the more reliable path to a straight-up victory even if Army’s discipline in penalties and turnovers keeps things uncomfortable. I’m backing Navy at -235 on the moneyline, grading it a B+ because the matchup and form strongly favor the Midshipmen, but the rich price in a rivalry game caps the overall betting value. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 12/12/2025 11:00.([navysports.com](https://navysports.com/news/2025/12/8/football-army-and-navy-to-meet-saturday-in-baltimore-for-the-commander-in-chiefs-trophy.aspx?utm_source=openai))

With Navy scoring about 32.5 points per game and Army around 23, yet the Black Knights dipping closer to 21 points on average over their last six, a total of 38.5 sits just below what these teams typically produce when both offenses are functioning, and last year’s 31-13 Navy win already pushed this matchup into the mid-40s. Both starting quarterbacks, Horvath for Navy and Hellums for Army, are run-first dual threats, but Navy’s expanded passing with Horvath and explosive weapons like Alex Tecza and Eli Heidenreich have turned many Midshipmen games into higher-scoring affairs, while Army’s ball-control option still generates enough sustained drives to contribute its share. Navy has gone over the total in the majority of its games this season, and in recent meetings the Midshipmen have repeatedly outgained Army by a significant margin, suggesting enough efficiency and big-play potential for a combined score in the low- to mid-40s even with the familiar service-academy pace. I’ll take Over 38.5 at -105 and grade it a B-, recognizing that while offensive evolution and recent trends lean to the over, the rivalry’s familiarity and option-heavy styles still introduce meaningful downside toward a grindy, lower-scoring result. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 12/12/2025 11:00.([foxsports.com](https://www.foxsports.com/articles/college-football/navy-vs-army-prediction-odds-picks-december-13-2025?utm_source=openai))

Against the spread, Army becomes more attractive: the Black Knights have lost by more than seven just once all season and have covered every time they’ve been catching at least 6.5, while this rivalry has tilted Army’s way in six of the last nine meetings and was decided by one score in three straight years before last season’s Navy blowout. Navy still warrants favorite status thanks to Horvath’s dual-threat ability, the Tecza-Heidenreich skill tandem and a top-end rushing offense, and the Midshipmen’s late-season surge plus their consistent yardage advantage over Army in recent matchups support that pricing, but Army’s profile—Hellums powering a run-heavy attack, a defense holding opponents in the low 20s and exceptionally low turnover and penalty rates—naturally compresses margins even in defeat. With both teams already bowl-bound and the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy on the line, Army’s recent 3-1 run into this game and its habit of keeping contests within one score make the +6.5 especially appealing in a matchup where Navy is more likely to edge out a close win than to repeat last year’s two-score separation. I’m taking Army +6.5 at -115 and grading it a B: the matchup strongly supports a competitive Navy victory and solid value on the underdog number, but there is still real risk that another Horvath-led surge turns this into a late-cover situation for the favorite. Odds and availability are subject to change. This bet was made at 12/12/2025 11:00.([bettorsinsider.com](https://www.bettorsinsider.com/ncaaf/2025/12/11/army-vs-navy-3-player-props-and-best-bet-for-saturday-december-13?utm_source=openai))