Small Schedule, Big Rivalry

Enjoy covering the history and pageantry

Commentators Verne Lundquist and Gary Danielson get more excited about covering the annual Army-Navy game than any other.  That's saying a lot since the pair covers SEC football throughout the rest of the fall for CBS.  With Navy leading the series 59-47, seven games having been tied, Danielson appeared on the Paul Finebaum Show this week and was positively glowing about his weekend assignment.  Here's how The Smack sees it:

A view you won't see this year

Army (3-8) vs. Navy (7-4).  The Game will be played at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and will be the only Division I game on this week's schedule.  Middies are on an 11-0 run against the Black Knights, including all eight of those contested at Lincoln Financial.  A win this Saturday would give Navy the Commander-In-Chief's trophy for the ninth time in the last eleven years.  But there's plenty of incentive for Army who, with a victory of its own, would win the trophy by virtue of there being a three-way split amongst the major service academies in 2013.

Hey Sentinel...is this the one you stole?

Navy's signature win came two weeks ago against a San Jose State team that handed Mountain West Conference champion Fresno State its only defeat of the season.  By the same token, Army's last game was a losing effort against previously winless Hawaii, the MWC's bottom-feeder.  Win or lose, the season comes to an end for Army on Saturday, while Navy has a couple of weeks to rest and prepare for its Armed Forces Bowl showdown against Middle Tennessee.

For Army, their 2nd-ranked offense will be led by running backs Terry Baggett and Larry Dixon, and double-threat QB Angel Santiago who passes as far as he runs.  Santiago's favorite aerial target, as always, will be WR Xavier Moss.  Make no mistake, expect Army to run because, as a team, the Black Knights average only 80 yds. of passing per game.

Result of Googling "Woo Poo-On-Hudson"

Ranked just behind Army, Navy's offense features QB Keenan Reynolds who throws a bunch more than Santiago.  The results--26 TDs and over 1,100 total yards through the air--will most definitely keep the Army defense nervous, as it typically gives up over 215 passing yds./game.  But Army will also be busy keeping track of eight other runners, each of whom has totaled at least 185 yds. this season.  For its own, Navy's defense has been on a recent tear, reducing its last three opponents' point totals by an entire touchdown.

As much as I would enjoy seeing the upset, I can't imagine a scenario in which Army will beat Navy this year.  This will be one of those traditional intense rivalry games where you throw away the record books.  It may even be close in the first half, but once they're out of the tunnel for the second half, it's a lock for the Middies.  PICK:  Navy.

Division III

All four remaining teams enter the weekend undefeated and untied for 2013.  At stake:  a coveted berth in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl.

#1 Mount Union (13-0) vs. #4 North Central (13-0).  Mount Union is nation's highest scoring team averaging 49.6 pts./game and is 2nd in the nation in total offense (536.7 yds./game) relying more heavily on the run than the pass. The Purple Raiders are also the best team in nation on third down with a 57.8% conversion rate.  They're 2nd in the nation in total defense (273.7 yds./game) and is 3rd in the nation against the run allowing just 62.1 yds./game.  North Central brings a very balanced offense into the game, with a slight preference towards the passing game where they average over 13 yds./catch..  Defensively they will be challenged when Mount Union runs the ball, but having forced opposing backs to cough up the ball 20 times already this season should help them control the ball and capture good field position.  The Cardinals typically score way more and hold opponents to fewer points in the first half than the second.  As for the Raiders, they have scored more first half points than second half points eleven times in thirteen games this season.  In order to win, North Central will have to shut down Mount Union early.  I don't think they're capable of that.  PICK:  Mount Union.

#3 Mary Hardin-Baylor (13-0) vs. #5 Wisconsin-Whitewater (13-0).  Game will be played in Belton, TX where the Crusaders have made their mark running the football, averaging 5.3 yds./carry as a team.  They are very tough defensively, holding opponents to just 1.7 yds./rush and having forced 27 interceptions.    On special teams MH-B averaged nearly 14 yds./punt return while averaging 41.1 yds./punt going the other way.  Whitewater stakes their reputation on a passing game that averages 11.1 yds./catch and a quarterback who has only been intercepted once all season.  Meanwhile, their running backs have only lost seven fumbles all year.  The Warhawk special teams average nearly 29 yards/kickoff return, and as a team they are penalized just over five times/game.  At this point in the season, games are frequently decided by mistakes, and Whitewater just doesn't make many of them.  Despite being on the road, their experience and ability to exploit opponents' weaknesses makes this UW-W's game to lose.  PICK:  Wisconsin-Whitewater.

"And this quarter ton of fun is your nutrition coach which I know is ironic."