Navy at Pittsburgh

Navy will play the Panthers in Pittsburgh tonight, bringing in the nation's #2 rushing attack (348 yards per game). Navy remains a one dimensional team. They run the triple option and throw the ball less than 10 times per game. While one-dimensional can sometimes be bad, it works for Navy. It is an offense that is difficult to defend. Because of its unique structure, teams don't have any way to prepare for the novelty. Navy is in a role they find themselves in frequently: getting points on the road. They have risen to the occassion in the recent past, going 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games in this situation. The Midshipmen sport six ball carriers that have all had at least 20 carries, overall averaging 5.8 ypc, and five of the six over 6 ypc. Don't be surprised if Navy takes a shot downfield against the Panthers on their first possession. Last year they went to UCONN and on their first possession, with the Huskies poised to stop the run, they completed a 77 yard TD pass. Navy moves the ball with each possession and that often results in very few punts. Oftentimes on 4th down they go for it because they are confident that they can move the chains. Pittsburgh will now be on their third QB of the season and will be counting on Pat Bostick to get the offense moving. Bostick started vs. Virginia, where the Panthers were demolished 44-14. He has thrown five interceptions to just two touchdown passes. Virginia rushed the ball 42 times in that game for 173 yards. Look for more of the same from Navy here. The Navy defense has not been great, but the Panther offense is rated 105th out of 120 teams. Pitt's defense is ranked 9th but that ranking is somewhat misleading. They opened with Grambling State and E. Michigan which managed just 123 combined yards rushing and 384 yards overall. In Pittsburgh we have a BCS conference team that could lose 8-9 games this season. They have already lost three and still have to face Cinncinati, Louisville, Rutgers, S. Florida and West Virginia! Navy, a team that is 41-18 ATS vs. losing teams over the past 15 years, will likely win this game. We'll take the points as insurance.