Army Football Preview Predictions and Schedule 2011
Army football has 3 goals going into the 2011 season. 1) win 6 Games and go to a bowl. 2) Beat Air Force. 3) Beat Navy. Winning 6 Games and going to a bowl Game is very possible. Beating Air Force appears to be out of the question. Beating Navy, well, perhaps. They have lost 9 straight to Navy, iNCluding 31-17 last season, but they won the statistical battle, first downs, net yards, total plays, yards per rush, etc. So there’s hope.
Army is coming off their best year in ages, going 7-6 and winning the Armed Forces Bowl, 16-14 over SMU, their first bowl win since 1985 and their 1st winning season since 1996. They return 6 starters on offense and 5 on defense. They return QB Trent Steelman and several skill position players on offense. They return linebackers and a cornerback defensively but must replace several linemen on both sides of the ball. Offensive linemen are crucial to any team. It’s magnified for a team that runs the option.
Army opens the season against 3 straight Bowl teams, Northern Illinois, San Diego State and Northwestern. They finish the season with a 4 Game stretch of Air Force, Rutgers, Temple and Navy. That’s 7 tough Games with a 5 Game stretch in the middle that will make or break their season, Ball State, Tulane, Miami Ohio, Vanderbilt and Fordham.
Army’s season may very well come down to December 10th and the Army – Navy Game. On that date, they may have the chance to kill 2 birds with 1 stone, a win over Navy after 9 straight losses and a bowl Game for the 2nd consecutive year. We’ll call for a 6 win season for the Black Knights but it won’t be easy. They’ll have to do some damage to the softer, middle part of their Schedule and they’ll have to pull a big upset or two along the way, but it’s not out of the question.
2011 Army Football Schedule
Sept. 3 at Northern Illinois,
Sept. 10 SAN DIEGO STATE
Sept. 17 NORTHWESTERN
Sept. 24 at Ball State
Oct. 1 TULANE
Oct. 8 at Miami (Ohio)
Oct. 22 at Vanderbilt
Oct. 29 FORDHAM
Nov. 5 at Air Force
Nov. 12 RUTGERS
Nov. 19 at Temple
Dec. 10 vs. Navy