Categories
NCAA Football

Navy Midshipmen vs. ASU Sun Devils Gambling Prediction & Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl Preview

Midshipmen vs Sun Devils NCAA Football Spread/Handicapping

The 2012 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl is going to feature two disciplined teams in the Navy Midshipmen and the Arizona State Sun Devils, but while each team is talented, they’ve also been known to show their weaknesses. This game is worth tuning into, if only to watch the ground game of the Midshipmen.

Navy Midshipmen (8-4) vs Arizona State (7-5)
December 29, 2012
AT&T Park, SAN FRANSISCO, CALIF.
4:00 PM ET
Moneyline: Arizona State -570, Navy +445 from GTBets.eu
Spread: Arizona State -14
O/U: 56

ATS Matchup Stats | Gambling Insight!

Check out our in-house Handicapper!!! Buy Razor Ray’s Picks Today!

They’ll test Arizona State all game, but you have to assume that the Sun Devils have taken the appropriate steps to prepare themselves for one of the most unique offenses in the country.

Navy Midshipmen

The name of the game for the Navy Midshipmen is running the football.

CLICK TO GRAB OUR Expert CFB Picks for 2012 NCAA FOOTBALL Betting!

They produce 275.6 yards on the ground, which is good enough for sixth in the country, and they are led by freshman quarterback Keenan Reynolds. The 5’9” man behind center finished the regular season with 140 carries, 628 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns on the ground.

The passing game is a whole different story. Reynolds threw the ball just 97 times on the year, and as a result he completed just eight touchdowns and 884 yards. The team was 121st in passing this season, as they averaged just 110.4 yards per game in that category.

Defensively this team is solid. They allowed just 22.7 points per game, which was good enough to put them in the top 30 across the nation. Their area of emphasis on that side of the ball was stopping the pass.

A player to watch for Navy is senior tailback Gee Gee Greene. Reynolds may be the leading scorer on the ground, but Greene has the chance to test Arizona State’s defense from the opening possession.

Arizona State Sun Devils

The Arizona State Sun Devils finished just 5-4 in conference play, but their offense kept them competitive. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

They scored an impressive 36.4 points per game, which was good enough for 21st in the nation, and while they didn’t excel in any one particular area, they were extremely balanced.

Defensively, they were incredible against the pass all year, but struggled against the run. That’s bad news for this game, as Navy is no threat to pass the ball, and they’ve been known to run all over opposing defenses.

The key player for the Sun Devils is Will Sutton. The defensive lineman proved all year that he can have an impact when healthy. If he can make his presence felt, the running attack of Navy will be faced with a huge challenge.

There’s no denying that Navy’s triple-option offense can be difficult to prepare for, but with a whole month to get ready, Arizona State should prove to be the more dynamic football team. It’s possible that Navy executes to perfection and keeps it close early, but if the Sun Devils figure it out, this game should be theirs for the taking.

Trends

  • Midshipmen are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring less than 20 points in their previous game.
  • Under is 10-2 in Midshipmen last 12 non-conference games.
  • Under is 12-3 in Midshipmen last 15 games overall.
  • Under is 8-2 in Midshipmen last 10 games following a S.U. win.

O/U Pick: Under 56.5
Score Prediction: Arizona St. 31 – Navy 24

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"