NCAA Week 16 Picks + 2 Bowl Games
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NCAA Week 16 Army-Navy + 2 Bowls
All times Eastern
Week 15 Results: Rick: 2-4; Flip: 3-3
Bowl Games overlapped Week 16 in college football, resulting in three games on Saturday, with the Army-Navy tussle sandwiched between the first two bowl games, one at noon, and one at 9:00 pm ET, which are presented below.
Saturday, December 14
3:00 pm Navy Midshipmen vs. Army Black Knights (-6.5, 39.5) (CBS) - The game is bing held this year ar Northwest Stadium, in Landover, Maryland, which is close to being a home game for Navy, and the Middies will need all advantages if they hope to upend the Knights, who led the nation in rushing at an impressive 314.4 yards per game.
Both teams were capable of putting up big scores. Navy averaged 32.3 points per game, just behind Army, at 32.9. Navy's offense is a bit more balanced than Army's, QB Blake Harvath rushed for 895 yards and also threw for 1,154, with 11 TDs.
By comparison, Army QB Bryson Daily, aka Captain America, hit the ground for 1,480 yards and passed for 877. Army, in particular, often goes full halves without throwing a pass, but they are relatively proficient. Daily threw only 78 passes in 2024, completing 45, with eight going for scores. He threw only one pick all season.
Army won the AAC championship just a week ago, blasting Tulane, 35-14, improving their record to a stellar 11-1, the only loss to Notre Dame. The Black Knights were 8-0 in conference play and scored 35 or more points eight times.
Navy's offensive numbers are no less impressive. Highlights of the regular season include a 56-44 win over Memphis, a 34-7 victory at Air Force, and a 51-17 trouncing of Charlotte. However, Navy didn't always deliver, losing to Notre Dame, Rice, and being completely overwhelmed by Tulane in a 35-0 loss.
Taking into consideration just the huge difference in the teams' performances against Tulane, Army rates a sizable advantage.
In the 124 meetings since 1890, Navy holds a 62-55 advantage with seven games ending in ties. From 2002-2015, Navy won every time, 14 straight. Army has captured the last two, and six of the last eight, including last season's 17-11 victory at Foxboro, MA.
Army appears poised and fully armed to take home the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy.
Coin Flip: Navy
Fearless Rick's Pick: Black Knights 24 Midshipmen 10
It ought to be an entertaining game as both teams are riding extensive winning streaks - 9 straight for the Tigers, 8 straight for the Bulldogs. - and both teams feature high-scoring offenses and stingy defenses.
Stingy is putting it mildly for Jackson State, which has allowed 50 points in its last five outings. As for high-scoring, SC State has pounded opponents for a whopping 238 points in its latest five games.
The line on this game moved significantly, opening at Jackson State a 1.5-point favorite, to the current line of the Bulldogs -2.5, so trend followers can see where this is going. More than likely, this will come down to turnovers and late-game defense, of which Jackson State has an edge. However, there are no certainties especially in bowl games other than underdogs often coming through in big ways, which is why we like the Tigers, but especially the over.
Coin Flip: Jackson State
Fearless Rick's Pick: Tigers 34 Bulldogs 27
The Jaguars averaged 35.3 points per game and allowed 25.3, and their offense is dangerous, having put up a score of 87-10 - one of the worst blowouts of the season - on Northwest State back in September. Running back Fluff Bothwell averaged 7.5 yards per carry and scored 13 TDs for S. Alabama.
The Broncos will need to be stout on defense, but even that may not be enough. They scored 29.4 points per game, but allowed 31.4 during the regular season, and though the defense improved late in the year, their best effort was giving up 16 points to Central Michigan, though losing, 18-16. Field goals won't cut it for them. The Jaguars have too much offense and will wear them out.
Coin Flip: Western Michigan
Fearless Rick's Pick: Jaguars 42 Broncos 27
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Sports Home
Cumulative: Rick: 96-122; Flip: 98-120
12:00 pm Jackson State Tigers at South Carolina State Bulldogs (-2.5, 53.5) (ABC) - This is the Celebration Bowl, an FCS (Division 1-AA) meeting between the SWAC champion Tigers of Jackson State and the South Carolina State Bulldogs, champs of the MEAC.
9:00 pm South Alabama Jaguars (-8.5, 57.5) vs. Western Michigan Broncos (ESPN) - Division 1-A kicks off bowl season with this game, the Salute to Veterans Bowl, pitting a pair of 6-6 teams from the Sun Belt (S. Alabama) and the Mid-Atlantic (W. Mich.).
