VMI takes on Navy on Saturday, August 30, in Week 1 action. This game kicks off at 12 p.m. ET and can be seen live on CBS Sports Network.
Navy is a favorite at -41.5 with a posted total of 50.5 points.
Here’s my VMI vs. Navy predictions and college football picks for Saturday, August 30, 2025.
VMI vs Navy Prediction
- VMI vs. Navy Pick: Navy -41.5
My Navy vs. VMI best bet is on Navy to cover the spread. Find the best line available on our live NCAAF odds page.
VMI vs Navy Odds
| VMI Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+41.5 -105 | 50.5 -110 / -110 | N/A |
| Navy Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-41.5 -115 | 50.5 -110 / -110 | N/A |
- VMI vs Navy point spread: Navy -41.5
- VMI vs Navy over/under: 50.5 points
VMI vs Navy Preview
VMI Keydets Betting Preview: Inexperienced Defensive Line Could Get Exposed
VMI comes in after a tough 1-11 season in the SOCON, where the Keydets failed to cover their first five games.
The offense took a major step back, and there was truly very little to highlight. The ground game averaged 99 yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry. They averaged just 12.4 points per game and converted only 23% of their third-down attempts.
VMI loses its top running back — Hunter Rice — and its two best offensive linemen this season while returning just four overall starters. The portal is a one-way street at VMI, and when talent departs, it becomes tough to replace it, as this is a difficult school to recruit at.
Defensively, the Keydets lose 11 of their top 19 tacklers from last season, and the defensive line is a major question this year. All three full-time starters from 2024 are gone, and this is a spot where the inexperience at the defensive line could get exposed.
The Keydets do have experience at linebacker, but they're retooling in the secondary after allowing 67% completions with only four interceptions last season.
VMI could end up fielding a competent SOCON defense, but I would expect this group to struggle against Navy.
Navy Midshipmen Betting Preview: Navy Remains Full of Experience
The Drew Cronic modified “Wing-T” option really took off last season for the Middies, as Navy rattled off wins in its first six games on its way to a 10-win season.
Quarterback Blake Horvath was electric, running for 1,246 yards with 17 touchdowns. I was equally impressed with his passing display, as Horvath had an excellent 13:4 touchdown-to-interception ratio while only taking 11 sacks.
The offense should be in full swing yet again this season, as Navy returns nine starters, including the interior of its offensive line, which is critical in this scheme.
Alex Tecza returns at the fullback position and both slot backs are back from last year. This is a senior-led backfield that should anchor a very strong rushing attack.
Defensively, Navy returns five starters from a 2024 defense that really took strides. The defensive line is well-shored up with the return of Landon Robinson and Griffen Willis. This undersized unit should always play cohesively, and I expect it to be strong against the run this season.
The linebacker position saw Colin Ramos depart after last season, and his loss is a significant one. Luke Pirris, Jaxson Campbell and Kenneth McShan return, and this unit could mold into a strength for Navy this year.
The secondary does have some pieces that need to be replaced, but they were able to rotate some players last season. So, despite losing three starters, they have replacements with experience.
VMI vs Navy Pick, Betting Analysis
I'm laying the larger number here with the Middies at -41.5.
VMI is going to be undersized in this matchup and should really struggle once again to move the ball and establish any offensive rhythm. This group averaged just 12 first downs per game last year and had very few red zone opportunities.
The run game should be virtually non-existent, and Navy did a pretty good job last year getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. That means we should see plenty of negative plays by the Midshipmen.
Offensively, this will be a showcase for Navy. We should see chunk plays in the run game, specifically from Tecza at the fullback spot and from Horvath.
I would expect Navy to eventually suck those VMI defenders down and be able to sneak the slot backs behind them down the seams for wide open passing scores.
Navy should see very little resistance, and I would expect it to continue running its normal offense deep into the second half, even with backup quarterback Braxton Woodson, whom it relied on at times last season.
Look for a couple of second-half scores from the Middies to get comfortably in front of this big number.
Anchors Aweigh!
Pick: Navy -41.5
