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COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Navy’s profile is built around a ground game that already looked functional at a high level, and Florida Atlantic’s opening defensive line numbers were too soft to ignore. Navy ran for 506 yards in Week 1, which is the kind of production that can keep an underdog from getting extra possessions and can push a road favorite through a spread if the offense stays on schedule. Florida Atlantic did move the ball on offense with 396 total yards and 276 passing yards, but that output was not enough to offset a lopsided defensive showing and a 45-point margin in its first game.
Navy is coming off a clean offensive showing with 42 points, 527 total yards, and 506 rushing yards, a stat line that points to a clear identity and a repeatable way to move the ball. The Midshipmen also allowed just 15 points in that opener, which suggests they can force Florida Atlantic to become more one-dimensional if the Owls fall behind. Florida Atlantic’s offense produced 21 points and 396 yards, but the defense was the bigger concern, as it allowed 66 points and 9.2 yards per play. That gap matters against Navy because the Midshipmen can shrink possessions and keep pressure on a defense that already looked vulnerable.
Navy should control this game with its run game and create the cleaner scoring chances, while Florida Atlantic’s defense has too many early warning signs to trust against an offense that already showed explosive ground production. The best projection is Navy winning 38-24, which supports Navy to cover the spread and keeps the total in the low 60s.
