Military Bowl 2015: Pittsburgh vs. Navy TV Schedule, Time and Odds
Something has to give on Monday as bowl season roars onward with the Military Bowl, a showdown between the Pittsburgh Panthers and No. 21 Navy Midshipmen.
Under center, Navy touts dual-threat phenomenon Keenan Reynolds, who led the program to 10 wins and a third-ranked rushing offense. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, put on a resilient show all year, leading to an 8-4 record and the 21st-ranked run defense.
With both programs ready to lose players and enter a period of transition, the only thing on either team's mind right now is to finish the season on a high note. Here's everything to know about the encounter.
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Game Details
When: Monday, Dec. 28, at 2:30 p.m. ET
Where: Jack Stephens Field at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland
Television: ESPN
Live Stream: WatchESPN
Tickets: ScoreBig.com
Over/Under: 53
Spread: Navy (-3)
Team Injury Reports
| Mark Scarpinato | DL | Questionable |
| Alex Paulina | OL | Questionable |
| James Conner | RB | Out for season |
| Rachid Ibrahim | RB | Out for season |
| Jaryd Jones-Smith | OL | Out for season |
| Marc Meier | WR | Out for season |
| Kwazel Bertrand | S | Out for season |
| Shelley White | CB | Out for season |
Injury reports courtesy of USA Today.
Beginning the Transition
Really, Pittsburgh's been in a state of transition all year.
Former offensive coordinator Jim Chaney is on his way to Georgia, meaning the offensive play-calling will be handled by someone else on the staff and could be much different than what the Panthers touted all year. It was a tumultuous one either way as the Panthers went from Chad Voytik to Nate Peterman under center.
To top it all off? The Panthers lost star running back James Conner to an injury. But Qadree Ollison took over and ran for 1,048 yards and 10 touchdowns while Peterman threw for 19 touchdowns to five interceptions, but the offense sputtered to 28.3 points per game.
Star wideout Tyler Boyd, who might be on his way to the NFL, summed up the situation best, per Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
If there's a saving grace for the Panthers it's the fact the team has already dealt with an option attack thanks to a mid-October victory against Georgia Tech. The defense looks quite promising, and it's led by ACC Rookie of the Year Jordan Whitehead, who split the honor with Ollison.
Pittsburgh has to hope that its combination of standout young players on both sides of the ball can outlast a Heisman Trophy contender hunting for one last win before heading to the next level.
Chasing History
What else is there to say about Reynolds?
He's thrown seven touchdowns with one interception this year while leading one of the nation's most explosive running attacks, carving out 1,229 yards and 21 touchdowns for himself in the process.
What's on the line for Reynolds in his final game? He's 80 yards off the 4,495 rushing yards posted by Denard Robinson at quarterback, and he can add to his FBS record total of 85 rushing touchdowns.
Navy's already a big winner in other ways, though, in large part because coach Ken Niumatalolo decided to hang around after a brief flirtation with the BYU vacancy.
"It was a long and agonizing two days, probably the hardest two days of my life, but the Naval Academy has been my life for the last 18 years and I love it here," Niumatalolo said, according to ESPN.com. "I love the kids that go to school here and the people I work with."
Continuity in place, Navy won't steer away from its run-first approach, which is designed to confuse and bulldoze opponents. The only teams able to stop the attack this year were then-No. 15 Notre Dame and eventual 12-game winner Houston.
Monday gives the Midshipmen another formidable foe. But with history on the line in Reynolds' final game, don't expect anything less than the program's top effort of the year.
Prediction
Some might consider the Panthers extremely motivated after last year's epic collapse in the Armed Forces Bowl, but Navy figures to have them beat in that department with Reynolds on his way out and the Midshipmen frustrated over missing out on a major bowl game.
Navy shouldn't have any issues wearing down the Panthers in this one. Pittsburgh has dealt with similar looks this year but never an attack as potent or secure with the football.
The Midshipmen just don't turn the ball over, and it's going to show in a game against an offense that struggles to get points on the board and a coaching staff continuing to undergo changes.
Pittsburgh isn't far off from being in a situation as bright as Navy's, given its wealth of young talent, but it isn't experienced enough to bring this one home late.
Prediction: Navy 28, Pittsburgh 23
Statistics courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified. All betting information courtesy of Odds Shark.
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