ARMY – NAVY GAME 2022

This is THE bowl game for these teams. The Commander-in-Chief Trophy was already secured by Air Force but that doesn’t matter on Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Get ready for “3 yards and a cloud of dust” as neither of these teams average even 100 YPG in the air. Doesn’t matter, this is the 123rd meeting of these two that started in 1890. Expecting a good game and brisk weather ( as it should be ) for this one. Also…some of the absolute best ESPN College GameDay Signs come out at this game…don’t miss that!!

Army 1st (because it begins with “A”). The better running attack of the 2. 300 YPG+ on the ground in 4 of their last 6 games. Guess how many times the Black Knights have thrown the ball this season? No, really…Guess?……..that’s too high! 16 times! Reminds ZT of something Woody Hayes said “only 3 things can happen when you pass and 2 of them are bad!” (ZT, you still trying to get on a Progressive Commercial about becoming your parents quoting these old coaches?). The Black Knights are obviously believers in that statement!! Do note, when they have passed their average is just over 22 yards per catch. QB Tyheir Tyler ( just a little bigger than Kevin Hart at 5’8″) is the top rusher so you get the deal. Defensively, more porous and that is not good when you are playing guys that really like the water.

Navy…..let’s start with Defense noting they give up less than 90 YPG on the ground and have lost close games to Cincy, SMU, ND, and Air Force. That stat ranks the Midshipmen 4th in the nation vs. the run. Navy offense has been challenged since QB Lavatai suffered a knee injury. Xavier Arline has filled in but the workload has been placed on RB “Yabba” Daba “do” “Banana nana” Fofana (ZT, COME ON MAN!!!…..taking a guy named Daba Fofana and mixing the Flintstones and The Name Game Song with it is too much. Geez, IT IS late in the season!). Not naming any receivers as top guy averages less than 2 per game so why name him. Reminds ZT of Dabo Swinney who noted when he played for Gene Stallings at Bama the receivers were called “Wide Blockers.”

ZT expects this to be one of the most efficient games of 2022 as the clock will just run like both of these teams.

So….time to make the prognostication. Really like Army running attack but note Navy has played better competition this year and their defense is stifling against the run. The final influence was ZT ran into a former Navy football player and he didn’t hesitate when asked about the game: “Navy will win” Guys with Boats 17 Guys with Tanks 16

ZT been in Texas and headed to FL….good news? Plenty of Buc-ee’s (if you know you know!) locations so full of brisket, jerky, wrapped sausage on a stick, and reloading on Beaver Nuggets! Hoping to find a nice Christmas gift for my wife. Thinking a bikini with the Buc-ee’s mascot on the front (see below). Out till the New Years Day/CFP games. Padre is still scouring the transfer portal for his Gators. Felt there was hope to find some winners since even Baker Mayfield got picked up by the Rams after the Russians turned him down in a trade for Brittney Griner……