Army Football Faces Tough Test On Short Week
All is well with the Black Knights of the Hudson through the season's first four weeks. Following a bye week, Army football dispatched fellow conference rival Rice University on Saturday with a score of 37-14. Yet again, the Black Knights took care of business against an inferior conference opponent.
Initially favored to win by seven points, oddsmakers were thrilled that West Point easily covered the spread. Quarterback Bryson Daily happily obliged, supplying 145 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Of the more than 250 qualified rushers in the FBS, Daily ranks 32nd in rushing yards and even provided a glimpse of some fine arm strength on Saturday, the 21st.
Trap Games May Be A Generic Football Trope, But They Are Very Real
With a 3-0 start to their 2024 campaign and a 2-0 record in conference play, Army is enjoying its best start since 2021.
For all of the jubilation and triumph, though, the Black Knights are on a short week. They face Temple on Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field, a familiar venue for Army. Temple finally won last weekend, a victory attributed to a record-setting field goal.
Army must avoid a letdown, especially during a short week. By the final whistle on Thursday night, West Point will have played two games in roughly 130 hours.
Circumstances like this occur all the time in sports, particularly in football, where a vastly superior team plays down to inferior competition.
Recent history has shown that Jeff Monken and the cadets have been successful as away favorites, though. The black and gold are 5-4 as road favorites since 2017, and they are no exception this time, too. Army is a 13-point favorite against the Owls.
How Can the Army Avoid A Letdown This Week?
West Point enters this week with the second-best rushing offense in the country, at 356 yards per game. They are averaging 6.3 yards per rushing attempt, and Pro Football Focus has Bryson Daily ranked as the seventh-best quarterback in the country. The Black Knights also rank eighth in offensive efficiency and 75th in ESPN's football power index rankings.
Conversely, Temple will enter this game with one of the worst run defenses in the country. As per usual, the Army should have no issue churning up yards on the ground, regardless of their foe.
Temple's offensive production has been challenging to come by. The Owls are averaging just 318.5 yards of offense and less than 20 points per game. Army's stopping unit has surrendered just 271.3 yards per game and has given up just 28 points in three games.
Ultimately, Army's game plan emphasizes containing Temple's dynamic slot receiver, Dante Wright, and feasting on one of the worst offensive lines in college football. Temple's right tackle, Melvin Siani, is the only offensive lineman on Temple with a PFF rating above 57.
What Can We Expect From Army Football This Week?
Can the brave, old Army come out fast and impose its will, as it has all season so far?
Yes, West Point's competition has been underwhelming, but Army is one of just two remaining undefeated teams in the AAC; Navy is the other. Temple has a point differential of -67 and was already eviscerated by Navy.
Despite apprehension about playing on a short week, Army should cruise to a comfortable victory against the Temple Owls, and secure its first 4-0 start in three years.
Read More College Sports News From Stadium Rant Here: College Sports News
MORE FROM STADIUM RANT:
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our newsletter here. Check out Stadium Rant Original shows on our Youtube channel and subscribe! Give our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok a follow for more great content!
Comments