Navy Favored in AutoZone Liberty Bowl Against Cincinnati

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From The Early Line Live

Bowl Game Insights: Navy vs. Cincinnati Preview

In the upcoming AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the Navy Midshipmen are favored over the Cincinnati Bearcats, standing as a 7.5 point favorite. Interestingly, the game opened with Navy as a 3.5 point underdog, highlighting a significant shift in betting trends with a total set at 54.5 points.

This matchup, which one might expect to see in the Armed Forces Bowl due to Navy's involvement, instead takes place in the Liberty Bowl, reflecting an interesting twist in postseason college football. The change in line favoritism is particularly noteworthy due to the absence of key players from Cincinnati's lineup. The Bearcats will be without eight starters, including their standout All-American quarterback, Brendan Soresby, who has had an impressive season. The impact of these absences is compounded as Cincinnati also misses crucial reserves, especially on the defensive side.

Historically, military academies have shown strong performances in bowl games. Notably, they have a combined record of 43-15 against the spread in such matches if the academy had a winning season. Specifically, since 2013, they hold a perfect record against the spread in bowl games. This track record supports the shift towards favoring Navy in this encounter. As Navy does not typically face challenges related to player transfers and opt-outs that can affect other teams like Cincinnati, their consistency and preparedness give them a distinct advantage as indicated by the betting trends.

In light of these factors, Navy appears to be a solid bet for this particular game, promising a tightly contested battle despite the challenges faced by Cincinnati.