Just like that, Week 2 has arrived.
Texas vs. Michigan and Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State headline Saturday's early slate, but the Florida Atlantic Owls hosting the Army Black Knights also offers some intrigue.
Even though FAU fell to the Michigan State Spartans, both these teams had strong performances in Week 1, so we should be in for a good matchup this afternoon in Boca Raton. Here's a look at my Army Black Knights vs. FAU Owls prediction.
Army vs FAU Prediction
- Pick: FAU -3.5
My Army vs. Florida Atlantic best bet is on the Owls on the spread, with the best line currently available at DraftKings, according to our live NCAAF odds page.
Army vs FAU Odds
| Army Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3 -120 | 42.5 -110o / -110u | +125 |
| Florida Atlantic Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3 +100 | 42.5 -110o / -110u | -145 |
- Point Spread: Army +3 (-120) · FAU -3 (+100)
- Total: Over/Under 42.5
- Moneyline: Army +125 · Florida Atlantic -145
Army vs Florida Atlantic Preview
Army Black Knights Preview
Army took care of business against FCS Lehigh last week, but the competition increases in Week 2. As expected, the Black Knights leaned on the triple option and did so effectively, rushing for 375 yards and six touchdowns at 6.7 yards per clip.
There's no one single Army rusher to focus on since five players rushed for over 30 yards in Week 1. Quarterback Bryson Daily is pretty much what you'd expect from a service academy quarterback as he completed 3-of-6 passes for 35 yards last Saturday and threw for 918 yards all of last season.
It's hard to learn much about the Black Knights' defense after Week 1, but since Army took in no transfers, last year's results can be instructive.
The Black Knights gave up over 30 points in just one game last year, a 62-0 road loss to an LSU team that featured a Heisman-winning quarterback and two first-round NFL wide receivers. Not even teams in the SEC could effectively contain that trio, so it's hard to be too critical of Army in that spot.
Against the other 11 teams on its schedule last season (including Syracuse and Boston College), Army allowed just 17.4 points per game. The Black Knights probably aren't built to completely shut down FAU, but they can definitely give the Owls some trouble.
FAU Owls Preview
Tom Herman and Florida Atlantic certainly made some Michigan State fans nervous in Jonathan Smith's debut last Thursday.
The Owls left it all out on the field in their 16-10 Week 1 loss. They were slightly out-gained, 293-248, and limited Spartans quarterback Aidan Chiles to 114 passing yards and two interceptions.
That's an excellent defensive performance against a Smith-coached team. Facing Army is a much different task than Michigan State, but it's hard not to put some faith in FAU's defense after what it showed against the Spartans.
Despite getting dinged up a bit in East Lansing, Owls quarterback Cam Fancher participated in practice this week and should be good to go Saturday. That's good news for FAU because Fancher's rushing ability diversifies the run game and opens up more lanes for FAU's running backs.
Fancher ran for 67 yards against MSU and rushed for 729 yards and five scores in his previous two seasons at Marshall.
Look for running backs Zuberi Mobley and CJ Campbell Jr. to complement Fancher on the ground, while wideout Omari Hayes should be Fancher's top target after reeling in five catches for 74 yards against Michigan State.
Army vs Florida Atlantic Pick & Prediction
Florida Atlantic put together a winning effort in Week 1, and I think the Owls will get rewarded with a real win on Saturday. The Owls can attack Army in different ways and it appears their defense is capable of slowing down a team like the Black Knights.
Add in the hot and humid South Florida weather, and FAU will probably have a bit more gas in the tank late in this game.
Take the Owls to fly high and cover against Army.
Pick: FAU -3.5 (Play to -4)
How to Watch Army vs Florida Atlantic Live: Start Time, TV Channel, Location
| Location: | Boca Raton, FL |
| Date: | Saturday, Sept. 7 |
| Kickoff Time: | 12 p.m. ET |
| TV / Streaming: | CBS Sports Network |
Army vs Florida Atlantic Betting Trends
- 74% of the bets are on FAU to cover the spread against Army while 88% of the money is on the same bet.
Army vs Florida Atlantic Weather
