While undefeated Army has been among the biggest surprises this season, the schedule hasn’t been the most challenging. That is about to change in the next two and possibly three games.
Army’s path to a potential AAC title game appearance will see one of its biggest challenges when the Black Knights visit North Texas.
This will pit one of the nation’s top running teams against one of the top passing units. Army is first nationally in rushing offense, averaging 340 yards per game. North Texas is second nationally in passing offense, with 371.6 passing yards per game.
One strength against another with plenty at stake for both teams.
Army-North Texas How To Watch
Army plays at North Texas at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday on ESPN2.
Records: Army (8-0, 6-0 AAC); North Texas (5-3, 2-2)
Army-North Texas Betting Odds
Army is a 4.5-point college football betting odds favorite. The Over/Under is 63.5 total points. The moneyline is Army -200, and it is +165 for North Texas.
Army-North Texas Coaches
Army: Jeff Monken (78-55 at Army; 116-71 overall)
North Texas: Eric Morris (10-10 at North Texas; 35-28 overall)
Last meeting: Nov. 18, 2017; North Texas won 52-49 at home.
A 39-yard field goal by Trevor Moore with five seconds left was the game-winner. This was a battle of quarterbacks. North Texas QB Mason Fine threw for 386 yards and four touchdowns. Army QB Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for 244 yards and two scores.
Why The Army-North Texas Game Is Important
If Army wins, the Black Knights would be 7-0 in the AAC with just one conference game left, Nov. 30 at home against UTSA. A win would put Army in good position to earn a berth in the AAC championship game. The next closest teams in the standings are Tulane (5-0) and Navy (4-1), and those two teams play each other.
North Texas, while still mathematically alive, would need a lot to happen in order to earn a championship game berth. Yet if the Mean Green win, they would become bowl-eligible.
Army-North Texas Preview
For Army
Army is coming off a 20-3 home victory over Air Force, which fell to 1-7. The Black Knights played for the first time this year without quarterback Bryson Daily. Army stated that Daily was out due to “injury or illness” but didn’t expand.
Dewayne Coleman made his first start at quarterback and rushed 16 times for 42 yards while completing 5 of 8 passes for 48 yards. Coleman played a turnover-free game. Sophomore running back Kanye Udoh rushed for a career-best 158 yards and two touchdowns.
Contacted by HERO Sports, Army sent a quote that Monken said to the media after the win over Air Force about Daily’s future availability.
“He’s going to play again this season,” Monken said. “It’s just a matter if we can get him back out there next week. We hope he can. He’ll do everything he can to be out there.”
There is a major difference if a healthy Daily is in the lineup. Daily is sixth in the country and first among quarterbacks with 129.9 rushing yards per game. He has rushed for 909 yards and 19 touchdowns. Only Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, with 20 rushing touchdowns, has more on the ground than Daily.
In addition, Daily has kept teams off balance with his seldom but effective passing. He has completed 27 of 47 passes for 629 yards, seven touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Udoh is second on the team behind Daily in rushing with 791 yards and nine touchdowns. Junior linebacker Andon Thomas has a team-high 50 tackles, while sophomore linebacker Elo Modozie has a team-high 4.5 sacks. Army is first in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 11.25 points per game.
For North Texas
The Mean Green are looking to snap a two-game losing streak. On Oct. 19, North Texas lost 52-44 at preseason AAC favorite Memphis. The following week, North Texas fell 45-37 at home to Tulane. The Mean Green had a bye last week.
Quarterback Chandler Morris is second in the FBS in passing touchdowns with 26, trailing only Heisman Trophy candidate Cam Ward of Miami, who has thrown for 29.
Morris has completed 63.8% of his passes for 2,873 yards. He has thrown eight interceptions. DT Sheffield is the leading receiver with 51 receptions for 690 yards and 10 touchdowns. Shane Porter has rushed for a team-high 307 yards and two touchdowns. Makenzie McGill II has run for 202 yards and six touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Jaylen Smith leads the Mean Green in both tackles (55) and tackles for loss (six).
Army-North Texas Prediction
I like Army laying the points, regardless of who is at quarterback. Army averages 37.88 points and will be facing statistically one of the worst defenses in the country. North Texas is allowing 36.88 points per game, which is 127th nationally. The Mean Green also allow 177 rushing yards per game and haven’t faced a rushing attack as potent as Army’s.
The key for North Texas will be playing with a lead, but good luck with that. Army owns a 12-game winning streak, which is the longest current one in the nation, and the Black Knights have not trailed at any point during this streak.
Army will be tested by a North Texas team averaging 40.75 points per game. The Black Knights will try to win time of possession and keep the North Texas offense on the sideline. Army’s time of possession per game is 34 minutes, 1 second, compared to 25:59 for opponents.
After this week, Army has a bye before facing Notre Dame on Nov. 23 at Yankee Stadium, but Army can’t afford to look past North Texas.
