Navy Midshipmen 2022 College Football Preview
July 6, 2022
2021 Recap
Record – 4-8
ATS – 8-4
Anchors Aweigh, indeed.
Another Navy football season went for a visit to DAVY JONES’ LOCKER as they sputtered their way to a record of 4-8. Things got off to a rough start as they lost their first two games by a combined score of 72-10 and they had a mark of 1-6 after seven games. The MIDDIES kept battling tho and won three of their final five games including a yuuuuge win in the season finale over their hated rivals from West Point (W 17-13).
Three of the last four seasons have been pretty rough (3-10, 3-7, 4-8) with the only bright spot being an excellent 11-2 record in 2019. Let’s see how things look heading into 2022.
Navy Midshipmen 2022 Outlook
OFFENSE
Things will not improve until they get their vaunted ground attack rolling. They’ve booked 226 and 178 YPG the last two seasons after averaging well over 300 YPG from 2015-2019. Navy needs to get dynamic QB play someway, somehow, and it’s unclear if Tai Lavatai or Xavier Arline can deliver the goods. Neither of those QBs are particularly explosive running the football. The HITS KEEP COMING when you consider that they lose their top-four RBs as well as #1 WR Mychal Cooper (19.9). Three starters return up front and they were a disappointing bunch LY (30 sacks, 3.9 YPC). We don’t have high hopes for the offense but they’ve added a bit more speed to the mix so we’ll see how things turn out.
DEFENSE
The defense performed reasonably well LY (349 YPG, #34 FBS) and they were particularly strong vs the run (130 YPG, #32). Defending the THROW GAME was an issue (#111 pass efficiency D) and they only tallied 16 sacks in 12G. Navy returns just five starters on this side of the football and they lose four of their top-five tacklers including superstar LB Diego Fagot. Thankfully, they still look pretty stout up front and boast a pair of experienced safeties. Replacing a special player like Fagot is going to be impossible and it would help immensely if they could find some kind of pass rush. Navy’s track record on defense is pretty good so there’s some hope.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Yes, guy.
The MIDDIES bring back punter Riley Riethman along with PK Bijan Nichols who did a great job in 2021 (15-19 FG, 1-4 50+, 28-28 XP). KR Maquel Haywood is a TD WAITING TO HAPPEN (31.0, TD LY).
Schedule Analysis
Overall – Navy tangles with all three AAC big boys and two of those games are on the road in November (UCF, Cincinnati). Their final home game is on October 29th (!).
Potential ATS Trouble Spot – Nothing too spooky is noted.
Season Win Total
Per BetOnline July 6
Over 4.5 +120
Under 4.5 -150
MEGALOCKS says:
No leanage.
The schedule isn’t brutal like in 2021 but it’s still pretty tough. They’ve got two FREE SQUARES and have a 50/50 shot of bagging three or more wins in the other games. Tough call at this market price.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
HC Ken Niumatalolo is a rock solid 97-80-2 ATS (55%) and he’s EXTRA SPICY in the role of home underdog (14-8-1, 64%).
MEGALOCKS Outlook:
Navy has fallen a clear notch below Army and Air Force and it’ll be interesting to see if they exceed expectations in 2022. We don’t think that the offense will be good enough to dictate how games play out (like Army) and they’ll do well to make a bowl game. Taking back the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy must be JOB #1 and the October 1st game at Air Force LOOMS LARGE in that regard. Go Navy!
Want more Navy football?
WEBSITE
https://navysports.com/sports/football
FORUM
https://247sports.com/college/navy/Board/GoMidshipmen-103672/
NEWS
http://www.capitalgazette.com/sports/navy_sports/
https://www.espn.com/college-football/team/_/id/2426/navy-midshipmen