The Tarleton State Texans take on the Army Black Knights in West Point, New York, on Friday, Aug. 29. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Army is favored by -16.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -690. The total is set at 51.5 points.
Here’s my Tarleton State vs. Army prediction and college football picks for Friday, August 29.
Tarleton State vs Army Prediction
- Tarleton State vs. Army Pick: Under 51.5
My Army vs. Tarleton State best bet is on both teams to go under the total. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
Tarleton State vs Army Odds
| Tarleton State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14.5 -105 | 51.5 -110o / -110u | +455 |
| Army Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14.5 -115 | 51.5 -110o / -110u | -625 |
- Tarleton State vs Army point spread: Army -14.5 (-115), Tarleton +14.5 (-105)
- Tarleton State vs Army over/under: 51.5 (-110o / -110u)
- Tarleton State vs Army moneyline: Tarleton +455, Army -625
Tarleton State vs Army College Football Betting Preview
Tarleton State Texans Betting Preview: Watch Texans Closely
Tarleton State started its season off with a convincing road victory over Portland State by a score of 42-0 in Week 0 action.
The defense was the story here, as the Texans' stop unit forced four turnovers and limited Portland State to a third-down mark of 4-of-14.
While Tarleton did have a few long, explosive touchdowns, I was concerned by the lack of offensive consistency in the first half. The Texans didn't sustain a lengthy scoring drive in the opening half, and also fumbled in the red zone and missed a 42-yard field goal.
I will be watching the passing efficiency of quarterback Victor Gabalis, along with the special teams' field-goal operation as this season progresses.
Army Black Knights Betting Preview: Moving On From Captain America
Army is looking to open its season with a bang after going 12-2 with a victory over Louisiana Tech in the Independence Bowl last year.
This Army team has the makings of a decent group this year, but I expect it to take a step back from the magical 2024 team that won the American Conference.
Quarterback Bryson Daily has moved on, as has bell-cow back Kanye Udoh and several key pieces from the Joe Moore Award-winning offensive line.
Speaking of that offensive line, the orchestrator of that unit, Matt Drinkall, is now the head coach at Central Michigan.
With the transfer portal being a one-way street here at Army, replacing these pieces and the key contributors lost on defense could be tough to do.
Defensively, five players who started last season depart, including Elo Modozie, who transferred out to Georgia. The secondary remains a strength for the Black Knights, and this coverage unit should play cohesively together from the start.
Tarleton State vs Army Pick, Betting Analysis
I like the under in this matchup between Tarleton State and Army.
Army is going to be methodical offensively, with the option attack being deployed at a slow operating speed.
I expect the Black Knights to work the fullback dive quite a bit with Jake Rendina, while getting new quarterback Dewayne Coleman acclimated to carrying the ball himself. Coleman is a stronger passing quarterback, so we could see more passing from Army as we get into the season, but we might not see it here.
This offensive platoon will have significantly less punch overall than we saw a season ago without Daily, Udoh and the rock-solid consistency of the offensive line.
I expect Tarleton State’s defense to hang in there against the run and make it somewhat difficult for Army to operate. Look for lengthy, methodical drives from the Black Knights that chew up that clock.
The travel here for Tarleton State is also concerning. The Texans are coming back from Portland, Oregon, and had very little time to regroup before getting back on the plane. I could see this group experience a little jet lag and operate a jerky offense after such a whirlwind travel situation.
Gabalis was unable to connect on the deep shots last week against Portland State, and the windows will be even tighter this week against Army's coverage unit.
I look for this offense to run the ball more and utilize shorter passing routes to take the pressure off Gabalis.
Army has a propensity to swallow the ball in the second half of games, and I can see the possessions being limited in the second half here. I expect the Black Knights to use every second of the play clock late in this game while utilizing fullback dive and quarterback iso.
However, with less explosiveness, the result will be more time of possession, more plays needed to move the ball down the field, and fewer scoring opportunities. I think this one stays under the posted total. Go low here.
Pick: Under 51.5 (Play to 49.5)
