Army – Navy Game – Maddux Sports

There is only one college football game this weekend as we are stuck in between the regular season and the start of the bowl season. We’ve spent time for the last 15 Saturday’s looking at the day’s action, so there is no reason to stop that even though we only have one game. Here, then, is a collection of 10 facts and figures you may or may not need to know to prepare for today’s Army-Navy game:

1. This is the 110th edition of this rivalry. The first was played in 1890, and it has been played in all but ten years since. Navy has a slim lead – 53-49-7.

2. Navy has won seven in a row, and nine of the last 10.

3. The favorite has covered seven of the last eight editions of the game. This year Navy is favored by two touchdowns.

4. Army will be desperate for a win. They have only won five games, so they need a sixth win to become bowl eligible. If they win they will play Temple in the Eagle Bank Bowl on December 29. If not then UCLA will play in their place.

5. Since 1963, both teams have entered the game just once with a winning record – in 1996.

6. The rivalry is intense – the weight plates in the Navy weight room are stamped with the phrase ‘Beat Army’.

7. All but six of the 109 games have been played on neutral sites. Most often that site is Philadelphia, as it is this year. Other common sites include Baltimore, Washington and New York. In 1983 it crossed the Mississippi for the first time when it was played at the Rose Bowl.

8. In 1944, 1945, and 1946 Army won the game to clinch at least a share of the national championship.

9. The intention has always been for this to be the last game of the regular season. It used to be played on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, but was moved to the first Saturday in December. Because of the advent of conference championship games, this is the first year that the game has been moved to the second Saturday in December, and that is where it is intended to stay.