There's an early AAC matchup on Saturday morning at 11amET when Navy (3-7 SU, 6-4 ATS, 3-4 AAC) takes on No. 20 UCF (8-2 SU, 7-3 ATS, 5-1 AAC) from FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando.
Last season, Navy upset the Knights at home 34-30 as a 14.5-point underdog.
UCF is looking to go bowling and win the AAC as they are tied with Cincinnati and Tulane after an impressive road win over the Green Wave last week. The Mids gave it their all and fell to Notre Dame in Baltimore 35-32.
Navy came into their game against Notre Dame as the heavy underdog playing in nearby Baltimore. And why not? The Irish just upset formerly undefeated Clemson at home 35-14. So of course, the Irish were 17-point favorites and looked as though they were going to cover that number early in the game when they had a 35-13 lead. But the Mids shut the No. 20 Irish out in the second half and lost by three.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been more proud of a football team after a game — win or loss — as I was this game,” Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo said to PressBoxOnline.com. “I just thought our kids battled until the very end. Great testament to who they are, their character, their fortitude, their resolve, their resiliency.”
But the Mids do not give up even when they are short-handed and they certainly were at quarterback with Tai Lavatai (knee) o ut for the season. So Xavier Arline got the start, but he had help from Maasai Maynor, who completed 4 of 7 for 51 yards and a TD.
However, Navy might be down to their third-string quarterback for this game as Arline (lower body) is listed as questionable for this game as he was injured in the fourth quarter against Notre Dame. Maynor has seen very little action in three years, but is probably a better passer than Arline, having completed 15 of 28 for 220 yards and one TD with a pick in six games.
Overall, Navy is averaging 239 yards per game rushing in their option attack to rank 10th in the nation. They allow just 86 rushing yards (6th), but are getting destroyed in the air (274.4 ypg).