PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- Being the favorite is not always an advantage in the Army-Navy game. But this year's clash at Lincoln Field appears to be one of the most one-sided in the history of the storied rivalry.
Navy, which already has accepted a bid to the Houston Bowl, is more than a three-touchdown favorite as Army is nearing the dubious distinction of becoming the first team in NCAA history to lose 13 games in one season.
After going 3-30 in the previous three seasons, Navy (7-4) has posted its first winning year since 1997 and can clinch its first Commander in Chief's Trophy in 22 years with a win over Army. The Midshipmen did have one bad loss against Division I-AA Delaware but came within a whisker of ending its now 40-game losing streak against Notre Dame, falling, 27-24, when D.J. Fitzpatrick kicked a 40-yard field goal as time expired.
Army (0-12) comes in looking to snap a school-record 14-game losing streak, which also is the longest current slide in the country.
"They scare the fool out of me," Navy coach Paul Johnson. "I'm being dead serious. Anybody that has ever been a part of that game (Army-Navy) knows that you might as well throw the records out. We're going to get the very best they got."
Army's struggles cost former coach Todd Berry his job. Berry was fired on October 13 and replaced by defensive line coach John Mumford, who has lost his first six games.
Army visited Hawaii last week, but the Cadets' defense stayed on the mainland as the Warriors rolled up a school-record 741 yards in a 59-28 victory.
Plagued by turnovers, injuries and inconsistent play, Army has lost only two games by fewer than 10 points this season. Its closest call was a 33-29 loss at Cincinnati on October 25. Zac Dahman has thrown 17 of the Cadets' 23 interceptions this season.
Facing Navy also will be no easy chore for the Cadets as the Midshipmen lead the nation in rushing, averaging 323.1 yards per game. Bruising fullback Kyle Eckel has rushed for 1,026 yards while Craig Candeto has passed for 1,052 yards and run for 964.
Candeto enjoyed a memorable performance in last year's 58-12 rout of Army, rushing for 103 yards and a school-record six touchdowns. The 46-point margin of victory was the second-highest in the 104-game series. Navy posted a 51-0 victory in 1973.
After a one-year hiatus, "America's Classic" returns to Philadelphia for the 77th time. Army leads the all-time series, 49-47-7, and has a 38-34-4 edge in Philadelphia.
