CSJ 2018 Armed Forces Bowl Preview: Houston vs. Army, Game Breakdown and Fearless Prediction
Houston vs. Army (Armed Forces Bowl)
When: Saturday, December 22, 3:30 PM EST
Where: Amon Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
TV/Streaming: ESPN, WatchESPN (subscription req’d)
Houston Cougars (T-1st AAC West, 8-4, 5-3)
After surging to a 7-1 start and seeming like a frontunner to get to the AAC Championship Game, the Cougars dropped three of their four final games to finish 8-4, including a 52-31 to Memphis to knock them out of consideration for the championship.
However Houston’s 8-4 record made them eligible for the Armed Forces bowl upstate at Fort Worth, Texas.
The game will feature two of the nation’s most prominent offenses as Houston enters the game No. 4 nationally in scoring with an average of 46.4 points per game while Army is No. 2 in rushing offense with 296.3 rushing yards per game.
The Cougars are 11-14-1 in 26 previous bowl trips.
The Cougars rank 10th nationally and the best in Texas with 10 seasons with at least eight wins since 2006. LSU, Boise State and Oklahoma lead the way with 13 such seasons since 2006 while Georgia is next with 12 such seasons. Also, Houston is one of just four programs nationally with at least 13 wins on two different occasions over the last seven years, joining Alabama, Clemson and Florida State in accomplishing the feat.
Key Player: With banged-up, projected high 1st round draft pick DT Ed Oliver announcing he wouldn’t be participating in the bowl game, it will be critical that someone else steps up for the 1st team all-American on defense. That could be the senior LB Austin Robinson (116 tackles, 13 tackles for loss), but a banged-up defensive front isn’t exactly the way you want to face Army.
Fantasy Bonus Baby: Most of Houston’s pass-happy offense goes through dual-threat QB D’Eriq King (2,982 yard passing, 674 yards rushing, 50 overall touchdowns). He’ll be the fantasy guy to target on the Cougars since in both rushing and passing the ball, head coach Major Applewhite spreads the ball around.
Army Black Knights (10-2, Commander-In-Chief Trophy Winner)
Army’s season has been one enjoyable weekend after another, riding a eight game winning streak going into Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl against Houston on December 22nd.
Army will be looking for its fourth consecutive bowl win, including its third straight in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Head coach Jeff Monken’s gameplans are simple – compose grinding, clock-gnawing drives on offense, and shut things down on defense – and that combination has allowed the Black Knights to only allow a hair above 18 points per game and only 300 total yards per game on offense. Against fifth-ranked Oklahoma, Army held Heisman Award nominee QB Kyler Murray was held to 165 yards passing and 71 yards rushing – and needed overtime to beat the Black Knights.
Last time out, Army out-lasted Navy 17-10 to retain the Commanders-In-Chief trophy for the second consecutive year. During its game against the Mids, Army racked up 222 rushing yards compared to just 127 for its opposition. The Black Knights also forced four Navy turnovers which proved critical down the stretch.
Key Player: DB Jaylen McClinton was one of the heroes in the Army/Navy game, notching 9 tackles, forcing a fumble and grabbing an inteception in Army’s biggest game of the year. He’ll be facing a few more passes this time out, but if he has another big day, I love Army’s chances in this game.
Fearless Predictions:
Jamie: Houston clearly missed Tom Herrman on the sidelines and the triple option is tough to prepare for if you dont see it on a semi regular basis. Army 21, Houston 13
Kent: While Army has won eight in a row, Houston lost three of its final four games to miss out on the AAC title game. The Cougars are also banged-up on defense and will be without four defensive line starters, including All-American Ed Oliver, who is skipping Saturday’s bowl game in preparation for the NFL draft. This means the Army option game should have a field day. Army 31 Houston 17
Chuck: Having your best defensive tackle choose to be unavailable is a disastrous issue for the Cougars against Army’s potent triple-option attack. Even at fuil strength it would have been tough. Army 35, Houston 27
Chuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How Two Schools Started the Most Played College Football Series.
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