Betting tips for primetime Labor day NCAA football as Navy takes on BYU

In this crazy college football season, things are going to happen to schedules, as some teams rearrange what they are doing or cut their season altogether. It can have a domino effect. The Navy Midshipmen had a game they had to make up, as did the BYU Cougars. So they arranged a game against each other rather quickly. And BetOnline customers will get to see that game on Monday (Sept. 7) at 8 PM ET at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in Annapolis. It will be televised live on ESPN.

Navy, which finished 11-2 last season and garnered a national ranking, caught a bad break when Notre Dame had to drop out of a game with them, because of a commitment they had made with the ACC. BYU had a number of opponents drop out on them, including Utah. The way their schedule looks right now, they could actually go undefeated, because they don't have any Power 5 opponents. They were 7-6 last season, with wins over USC, Boise State and Utah State, but lost 38-34 to Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl.

The Middies have some transitioning to do, as they have said goodbye to quarterback Malcolm Perry, who not only ran the triple option but was second in the nation in rushing, setting an all-time FBS record for a QB with 2017 yards. With spring practice canceled, coach Ken Niumatalolo decided to go with experience at the position, so we are likely to see Dalen Morris, who has enough of an arm to be something of a passing threat. Of course, the bread-and-butter is the ground attack, which led the nation at 360.5 yards per game in 2019. But some attrition has thinned out the ranks. Sure, they have fullback Jamale Carothers (734 yards, 14 TD's last year), but they are piecing together some depth, converting people from the receiving corps and even the secondary.

BYU goes with Zach Wilson again at quarterback, and he is supported by one of the best tight ends in the country (Matt Bushman) as well as an offensive line that includes All-America candidates at left tackle (Brady Christensen) and center (James Empey). They'll try to slow a Navy defense that likes to blitz a lot. The top recruit, freshman wide receiver Kody Epps, may play a big role when all is said and done.

In the college football betting odds posted at BetOnline, Navy has been installed as a favorite:

Navy Midshipmen -3 (-102)
BYU Cougars       +3 (-118)

Over 53.5 points -110
Under 53.5 points -110

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This is a genuinely good matchup. And it was made just a month ago. Will that be long enough for BYU to get ready for the triple option? The plan this season was to go with a four-man defensive front, although using a 3-4 alignment has usually provided more flexibility in dealing with this kind of opponent. So it's good news that they'll have nose tackle Khyiris Tonga on hand, because he's a good one. It should be noted, though, that this defensive coordinator (Itaisa Tuiaki) doesn't have any experience against triple option offenses.

Navy could have a much different offensive look without Perry. And we're sure they won't lead the nation again in explosive play rate. We are confident in their ability to put athletes like Miles Fells (7 ypc last year) and Chance Warren (15 yards per touch) into those vacant backfield spots. Can CJ Williams step up and play? It's a little too early to tell.

But BYU has a deep corps of linebackers, and might be able to neutralize some of those "fullback dives" that the Middies are so well known for. With extra prep time, that helps. At the same time, the Cougars, who were 120th in red zone offense last season, may not have a real deep threat or a consistent ground game. And Wilson, a highly-touted recruit, has been underwhelming. The stop units on each squad may be a little more advanced at the moment, so we're going to lean UNDER in this Labor Day matchup.

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