NCAA Football
2024-12-27 - Oklahoma Sooners at Navy Midshipmen
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : College Football Armed Forces Bowl
Friday 27th December 2024 - Scheduled 12pm
5pm (British Time)
Preview
This was not the season that the Oklahoma Sooners (6-6) would have been hoping for and they needed a big upset to maintain their long sequence of reaching a Bowl Game. Ultimately the focus would have been trying to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff and this Armed Forces Bowl is little consolation to the team or the fans.
Unsurprisingly it has led to a number of players opting out of playing in the Bowl Game and that has included several of the stalwarts that have made the Sooners so tough Defensively.
There is little doubt that Oklahoma are a school that will always have plenty of talent coming through, but they will be tested by Navy Midshipmen (9-3) who have a team chasing double digit wins. They blew out the Army Black Knights to have this opportunity, which would also be just the sixth time a team representing Navy have managed double digit wins in a single season.
Players have shown their excitement at having the opportunity to face Oklahoma and that should see Navy bring their best effort.
Everyone knows the Midshipmen would love to run the ball, and that would have been much more challenging if the Sooners had all of their top Defensive players available. You have to believe the scheme will still be strong, but the Midshipmen have experience on their side and that should put them in a position to move the ball on the ground.
It is not going to be easy, but Navy have the schemes to make things difficult and to test Linebackers that have not had the same kind of playing time as those that have opted out. This could mean some breakdowns, which will be exploited by Navy, and even being a touch one-dimensional is not the biggest concern with the Midshipmen having racked up plenty of wins.
Opting out has not only been restricted to those playing on the Defensive side of the ball for Oklahoma, but they have also lost starting Quarter Back Jackson Arnold to SEC rivals Auburn in the transfer portal. That means a start for inexperienced Michael Hawkins Jr at Quarter Back, and he is also going to be without a number of the Wide Receivers that have decided to transfer.
Throwing against this Navy team has been challenging and there is every chance that the Midshipmen can earn the upset. The Navy Defensive Line has played the run well, which will be key to just shifting the pressure on Hawkins Jr at Quarter Back, and it might be a game that means more to the underdog.
Motivation can be the difference in the Bowl Games where the bigger school are perhaps disappointed to be involved.
Navy are excited about the opportunity and that can help the underdog.
Prediction
Take the points with the slight underdog in this one.
The Pick :
Navy Midshipmen 23-20 Oklahoma Sooners
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Navy Midshipmen + 3 Points at -110 with EveryGame Sportsbook
