The Army Black Knights and Villanova Wildcats square off Saturday in week 3 college football action from Michie Stadium.
The Villanova Wildcats will be looking to build on a 38-21 win over LIU last time out. Connor Watkins threw for 196 yards, 2 touchdowns and 4 interceptions on 7 of 12 passing while DeeWil Barlee had a team-high 177 rushing yards with a score and TD Ayo-Durojaiye added 109 rushing yards and a score as well. Jaaron Hayek led Villanova’s receivers with 4 grabs for 120 yards while Dez Boykin had a 60-yard TD grab and Rayjuon Pringle added a pair of catches for 16 yards and a score. On defense, Jalen Goodman had a team-high 7 total tackles while Shane Hartzell had a sack and the Wildcats combined for 4 TFLs.
The Army Black Knights come into this game trying to bounce back from a 41-38 OT loss to UTSA last time out. Cade Ballard has thrown for 309 yards and a pair of scores with a 70% completion percentage while Tyhier Tyler’s thrown for 131 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception on 40% passing. Tyrell Robinson leads Army with 160 rushing yards as well this season. Ay’Jaun Marshall has a team-high 141 receiving yards coming on 4 catches with a pair of scores and Braheam Murphy has 115 receiving yards as well this season. On defense, Marquel Broughton has a team-high 21 total tackles including 12 solo tackles while Leo Lowin has 19 total tackles and Andre Carter II has a pair of sacks this season.
Villanova is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 road games and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games overall while the under is 4-1 in their last 5 games overall. Army is 0-4 ATS in their last 4 non-conference games and 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games while the under is 5-1 in their last 6 games following an ATS loss.
I get the case to be made for Army as the favorite here getting the FBS rub against an FCS team, but Villanova’s no slouch and Army hasn’t looked all that great in their first couple of games of the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if Villanova kept this one close, but more so, I think it’s just going to be an ugly game that comes in well under the number with points coming at a premium.