Prediction time: 2024 Army-Navy

Army football’s biggest game of the season is finally here.

Army players and coaches say there’s nothing that matches college football most storied rivalry.

The Black Knights have enjoyed a magical season, entering with an 11-1 record and a chance to make academy history with victory No. 12 in the 125th edition of the Army-Navy game Saturday at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.

For all intent and purposes, this is Army’s bowl. It was the last two Decembers when the Black Knights defeated with the help of separate goal-line stands to salvage 6-6 season. Though Army has the Independence Bowl left on its schedule following Navy will be a much difficult challenge because Midshipmen’s increased success compared to the last two years, the familiarity and the fact that Marshall, Army’s bowl opponent, has had more than 20 of its players, including key starters, enter the transfer portal.

Enough of that, Army is a 6-point favorite against Navy.

Army has won six of the last eight games in the series. Eight of the last 10 games in the rivalry has been decided by seven points or less. The average margin of victory in those eight games is 4.5 points.

Sal Interdonato (Black Knight Nation): Army, 28, Navy 17. If Army’s offense doesn’t play down to the rivalry and keeps Navy’s defense with a variety of different ways to attack like it has under first-year coordinator Cody Worley, the Black Knight have the talent to win by two scores. A turnover-free game gives Army a very high chance of winning because it’s defense has been so consistent this season. Army defensive coordinator Nate Woody’s units have allowed 31 total points in his first four Army-Navy game. In nine service-academy games (5 vs. Air Force), Woody’s defense have allowed only 71 points, an average of less than eight points per game.

Seth Mendelson (Black Knight Nation): Army 35, Navy 17. America’s national champion. Army and Navy are both having excellent seasons. Always a tough game, but Army proves to be too strong this year. Bryson Daily breaks the rushing TD (for quarterbacks in a season) record too. 12-1!”

Steve Anderson (Black Knight Nation): Army 31, Navy 13

Brendan in Jersey: Army 28, Navy 17. I know these games are “fated by the football gods” or whatever to be close but Army has been the better program for years now and it’s about time it showed up on the scoreboard.”

Predictions from across the college football universe
Pete Fiutak (College Football News): Army 21, Navy 13
Kyle Wood (Athlon Sports): Army 24, Navy 14
Matt Postins (Armed Forces Sports on SI): Army 28, Navy 21
Claire Boyer (Armed Forces Sports on SI): Army 24, Navy 10
Michael Brauner (Armed Forces Sports on SI): Army 27, Navy 9
Kenneth Teape (Armed Forces Sports on SI): Army 35, Navy 10
Brad Wakai (Armed Forces Sports on SI): Army 31, Navy 10
Nick Ziegler (Armed Forces Sports on SI): Army 24, Navy 17
Adam Burke (VSIN): Army -6.5
Colton Pool (Hero Sports): Army win, Navy cover +6