Navy @ San Diego State preview
SDCCU Stadium
The Skinny: Navy is bowling once again and coming off a victory over Army in its annual armed forces grudge match.
The Midshipmen (9-3) are in a bowl for the eighth straight season thanks to a strong finish to the season. Navy went 7-1 in its last eight games including a win over Notre Dame that was followed up by a surprising loss to Duke.
San Diego State (8-4) is one of the better turnaround stories of the season under coach Brady Hoke and is making its first trip to the postseason since the Mountain West Conference formed in 1999. The Aztecs haven’t been bowling since 1998, when they were members of the Western Athletic Conference.
Point Spread: San Diego State -5, Over/Under 60.5
Navy’s Edge: The option. San Diego State will have some extra time to prepare, but is unlikely to be able to simulate the triple-option attack that Navy will unleash come game time.
Navy is ranked fifth in the country in rushing at 288.9 yards per game and if it can get that run game going, the Midshipmen will be able to control the tempo and keep the Aztec offense off the field
San Diego State’s Edge: The offensive line for the Aztecs should be able to assert itself and keep Ryan Lindley on his feet.
San Diego State has allowed Lindley to be sacked just nine times this season while the Navy defense has recorded just nine sacks all season.
The Quarterbacks: Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs doesn’t throw often but has been effective when he does air it out. Dobbs has thrown for 1,380 yards and 12 touchdowns with five interceptions. Dobbs’ main job is not to throw the ball, but to run Navy’s option. He has rushed for a team-leading 860 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
San Diego State’s Ryan Lindley has thrown for 3,554 yards with 26 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In 12 games this season, Lindley has been sacked only nine times despite attempting 398 passes.
NFL Prospects: Navy — OT Jeff Battipaglia, CB Kevin Edwards, WR Greg Jones. San Diego State — K Bryan Shields, CB Jose Perez, WR DeMarco Sampson, WR Vincent Brown.
Bowl History: The Aztecs are 4-4 all-time in bowl games, but have not won a bowl game since the 1969 Pasadena Bowl. Their last appearance came in 1998, a 20-13 loss to North Carolina in the Las Vegas Bowl. San Diego State has played at home once before, in the 1986 Holiday Bowl against Iowa. The Aztecs lost on a touchdown pass on the last play a wild 39-38 shootout.
The Poinsettia Bowl marks Navy’s 17th bowl appearance, including a school-record eighth straight. Prior to Navy’s current eight-game run of bowl appearances, the Midshipmen played in back-to-back bowl games just once in school history (1980-81). Navy is 7-8-1 in bowl games, dropping the its last three bowls by a combined 14 points.
Etc.: A victory over San Diego State would give Navy 10 wins for the second-consecutive year. It would be the first time in school history that Navy has won 10 games in back-to-back years.