The Armed Forces Bowl features a matchup between Oklahoma, who has a record of 6-6, and Navy, boasting a 9-3 record. This game is scheduled for December 27 at noon EST, with Oklahoma favored by 7.5 points according to BetMGM college football odds.

A notable aspect to observe in this game is the contrasting performances of both teams in passing defense and offense. Oklahoma’s passing game, averaging just 167.6 yards per game, ranks 122nd in the FBS, whereas Navy’s defense allows an average of 207.7 passing yards, placing them 48th overall. On the flip side, Navy’s struggling passing offense averages only 126.4 yards per game, which is last in FBS rankings, while Oklahoma’s defense concedes 212.4 yards per game, ranking them 54th in college football.

In their last outing, Oklahoma faced LSU and suffered a 37-17 defeat. Quarterback Jackson Arnold led the charge for the Sooners, completing 14 of 21 passes for 110 yards, without any touchdowns or interceptions. Arnold also contributed significantly on the ground with 75 rushing yards from 17 attempts. Samuel Franklin had a productive run game with 61 yards on six carries. Arias Hester was a key target in the passing game, reeling in one catch for 50 yards.

On the winning side of the spectrum, Navy took down Army with a solid 31-13 victory. Blake Horvath, the quarterback, finished with 107 passing yards on 4 of 9 attempts and threw two touchdown passes with no interceptions. He also showcased his running ability, amassing 204 yards on 25 carries and scoring twice. Landon Robinson added to the ground game with 29 rushing yards, while Eli Heidenreich contributed with a 52-yard reception resulting in a touchdown.

Key players to keep an eye on for Oklahoma include Jackson Arnold, who has racked up 1,421 passing yards, averaging 129.2 per game, with a completion rate of 62.6%. He has thrown for 12 touchdowns against three interceptions and has 444 rushing yards. Running back Jovantae Barnes has contributed with 577 rushing yards from 122 carries and five touchdowns alongside receiving yards. Wide receiver Bauer Sharp has accumulated 324 receiving yards from 42 catches this season.

For Navy, Blake Horvath stands out with 1,261 passing yards, averaging 114.6 per game with a solid touchdown-to-interception ratio of 13 to 4. Horvath is also a formidable running threat, amassing 1,099 rushing yards and finding the end zone 15 times on the ground. Eli Heidenreich, with 649 receiving yards on 37 receptions, has been a key asset on offense, scoring six touchdowns throughout the season.

From a statistical perspective, Oklahoma has an edge in scoring margins, having outscored their opponents by 2.7 points on average this season, while Navy has excelled in this regard with a margin of 9.9 points. Despite this, Oklahoma has ranked among the poorest passing offenses, sitting at 13th-worst in college football, but they have performed slightly better in pass defense, ranking 54th. Navy shows moderate overall performance with an offense ranking of 79th, averaging 376.1 total yards per game, while their defense ranks 63rd, allowing 363.6 total yards per game.