Army-Navy and the unbelievable betting trend of the unders hitting - ESPN

Among the many storied traditions in college football, perhaps none transcends the sport more than the annual Army-Navy Game. Not just a contest between heated rivals, the game is a celebration of the United States' history and traditions that entices fans across the country to choose between the nation's land and sea military forces.

Another emerging American pastime has latched itself onto the historic rivalry. As the final game of the college football regular season and the only major game on that Saturday's slate, Army-Navy provides a perfect window for sports bettors to get in on the action, making for one of the most popular betting games of the college football season.

In particular, betting the under on the contest has become a tradition in itself among the wagering public — and for good reason. Army, Navy and fellow service academy Air Force are famous for running option offenses, which rely on time-consuming running plays. Unlike in games against other opponents, when these programs face each other, it creates a situation where they know how to play against the option, often leading to defense winning the day.

This phenomenon led to the Army-Navy game hitting the under a remarkable 16 consecutive times from 2006 through 2021. The over then hit by five points in 2022, before the under returned with a vengeance in 2023 when the total closed at an astounding 28.5 points — the lowest total in the history of the rivalry and one of the lowest on record in any college football game. Army's goal-line stand with a 17-9 lead and only seconds remaining preserved the under, even with an intentional safety that made it a 17-11 final.

But the 2024 edition of this game carries more intrigue than just another faceoff for the