Prediction, Preview, and Betting Odds for the Oklahoma vs. Navy Armed Forces Bowl

Oklahoma fans can argue that it is been a difficult season with too many key parts are missing, but it would mean so much in a fresh start to get this and finish with a winning season.

The Sooners won the most important game of the 2024 season, a 24-3 thrashing of Alabama, which upset the CFP and qualified them for bowl games, but that is far from the program’s standard. After losing the last two bowl games and five of the last seven, this is important.

Navy won the only meeting, 10-0, in 1965, and has won the last two bowl games and five of the last six. However, the last postseason appearance came in the 2019 Liberty victory over Kansas State. Yes, beating Army is critical to the season, but defeating OU would be equally important.

Oklahoma vs Navy: How to Watch the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Game Preview

Date: Friday, December 27, 2024
Game Time: 12:00 pm ET
How To Watch: ESPN
Venue: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Teams: Oklahoma (6-6), Navy (9-3)

Why Navy Will Win

Navy is facing a whole slew of Oklahoma second-teamer. Granted, most of them would start for Navy, but this still isn’t the the team that got here, and the one that did struggled too much.

The Sooner passing game is missing three of its top four receivers, QB Jackson Arnold is off to Auburn, and star defenders LB Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman are getting ready for the NFL.

No, Navy isn’t just a running team, but it averages close to 250 yards per game. Oklahoma is 1-4 when allowing 110 rushing yards or more, and Navy has been held to under 140 yards just once, but …

Why Oklahoma Will Win

Oklahoma’s run defense is fantastic.

Yes, the team is missing a few key players, and it is not always easy to replicate the precision and timing of military academies, but Oklahoma had a month to prepare for this situation. This may not be the best Sooners team, but Brent Venables and his staff know how to prepare a defense.

Texas rushed for 177 yards against Oklahoma. That was the only time all year that someone averaged more than four yards per carry against this group.

And, while Oklahoma’s passing game will not be great without all of the missing pieces, it will begin to pound away and continue. Navy allowed more than 180 rushing yards five times. Oklahoma is 4-0 when it hits the target.

Oklahoma vs Navy: Who Will Win?

Sometimes the teams that don’t have the main guys for a bowl game get an amazing effort out of the replacements. That doesn’t always help – especially against other Power Four programs – but that might be enough to overpower Navy.

Again, the time to prepare for what’s coming should be enough for this OU coaching staff. The speed on the Sooner run defense should be just enough to push through in game with lots and lots and lots of running.