Navy hosts Bucknell in the season opener for both teams on Saturday, August 31st, at Noon ET, live on CBS Sports Network.
Navy is pegged as 33-point favorites in the game, with an over/under of 47.5.
Bucknell vs Navy Prediction
- Bucknell vs. Navy Pick: Navy -33
My Bucknell-Navy best bet is on the Midshipmen to cover the spread, with the best line currently available at FanDuel, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Bucknell vs Navy Odds
| Bucknell Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+33 -110 | 47.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
| Navy Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-33 -110 | 47.5 -110o / -110u | N/A |
- Bucknell vs Navy Point Spread: Bucknell +33 (-110) · Navy -33 (-110)
- Bucknell vs Navy Total: Over/Under 47.5
- Bucknell vs Navy Moneyline: N/A
Bucknell vs Navy Preview
Bucknell Bison Betting Preview: Can the Rush Defense Hold Up?
Bucknell had their best season in six years in 2023, winning four games.
Ralph Rucker came out of nowhere to win the quarterback job, yet set a Bucknell single-season passing record with 2537 yards and 21 TDs.
This offseason, the Bison lost valuable skill-position talent in the portal. Their leading receiver darted to William and Mary, while their top two running backs also left.
They return three offensive line starters from last year's unit, but that unit was bad, allowing a whopping 37 sacks. I expect the Navy defensive front to easily create pressure, which could stall Bucknell's attack.
Bucknell's defense returns six starters from last year's stop unit, but the Bison couldn't stop a nosebleed, allowing 431 yards and 34 points per game. The Bison were shredded in Patriot League play (463 YPG, 42 PPG), allowing nearly six yards per carry. The Bison have to replace three full-time starters on the defensive line, but could it get much worse?
There's more continuity at linebacker, with full-time starters Brad Jamison and Gavin Williams returning. Three starters from last year's secondary also return.
Regardless, this mostly bodes poorly against Navy's Wing-T attack. The Mids could rush for over 300 yards on Saturday, living in third-and-short situations.
Navy Midshipmen Betting Preview: Adjusting To The Wing-T
Brad Newberry returns for his second year leading the Mids, and year one was underwhelming.
While finishing 5-7, Navy looked dreadful on offense at times, attempting to shift from the traditional flex-bone triple-option attack. The Mids tried to throw the ball more — nearly doubling their per-game passing attempts — while seeing their rushing yards per game dip under 200 and their points per game dip under 18.
Behind new offensive coordinator Drew Cronic, Navy is shifting to a hybrid Wing-T offense. Cronic ran the system at FCS Mercer and D-II Lenoir-Ryne, succeeding at both stops. Expect fly sweep motions, rotating offensive line sets, and unbalanced line formations to create blocking mismatches and advantages.
Cronic’s previous teams also used option principles, so expect to see some inside trap and fly sweep. The Mids will use a lead blocker in limited situations.
The passing game should return to normal service academy levels based on deep play-action shots down the seams.
The Navy returns seven starters from last year's offense, but the Mids must adapt quickly to a new offensive scheme. It's nice to return QB1 Blake Horvath and most of the running back room (Alex Tecza, Brandon Chatman, Eli Heidenreich). Given most of the run actions in the Wing-T are similar to the triple-option, the learning curve shouldn't be too steep.
In the traditional sense, the Navy rarely uses wide receivers, using them more as "wide blockers." The Wing-T will mainly utilize 31 personnel with three running backs and one tight end, leaving one wide receiver out wide. The major pass-catchers in the offense are the slot-backs, but given the nature of the Wing-T, tight ends and wideouts could get more involved.
Navy returns five offensive linemen who started five or more games last season, and I expect major improvement from that group — and the running game at large — in 2024.
The Mids fielded a surprisingly good defense in 2023, scoring three shutout victories over Wagner, Charlotte and ECU. They were excellent in the red zone and goal-to-go situations, forcing tons of field goal attempts.
There are still some position battles on the defensive line, and they need a linebacker to emerge. But overall, the stop unit should be quite serviceable.
The special teams unit is "mid," but the Mids have an excellent punter who can flip the field from anywhere.
Bucknell vs Navy Pick & Prediction
Bucknell has a winnable game next week at VMI, a team it beat last year. If the Bison trail early, they might choose to rest starters in an attempt to leave Annapolis healthy.
Navy's struggled against FCS competition, posting lackluster performances in 2022 (a 14-7 loss to Delaware) and 2023 (a 24-0 win over Wagner as 42-point favorites). However, this could fuel the fire, as the Mids want to post a dominant win over lackluster competition for once.
Given last season's lackluster results and the installation of a new-look offense, I expect the Navy to take its first two bouts against lower-level competition (Bucknell, Temple) seriously, getting as much as it can out of each offensive snap before its Week 3 bye.
Look to load up on the Middies in this matchup.
Pick: Navy -33 (-110, DraftKings) | Play to -37 (-110)
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How to Watch Bucknell vs Navy Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD |
| Date: | Saturday, Aug. 31 |
| Kickoff Time: | 12 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | CBS Sports Network |
Bucknell vs Navy Betting Trends
- While almost three-quarters of the bets are on Bucknell, the handle is split down the middle.
- Navy went 5-7 straight up and 4-8 ATS last season, including 2-4 ATS as a favorite and 2-4 ATS at home.
- Seven of Navy's 12 games last season stayed under the closing total.
