Check out the second episode of “A Game of Honor,” CBS’s online “docu-drama” on the Army and Navy football programs. Then, scroll a bit to get the need-to-knows for Saturday’s three service academy games.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY970LthcsY[/youtube]Fordham (1-6) at Army (2-5), 3:30 p.m.
On the tube: CBS Sports Network (Gary Thorne, Randy Cross)
On the sideline: Army quarterback Trent Steelman, whose consecutive-start streak will end at 33 games, according to an Army release. Senior Max Jenkins gets the start, with freshman Angel Santiago expected to see some time under center.
On the radar: Snow. Maybe. Forecasts call for the ever-popular “wintry mix” at West Point around kickoff. It could be a blessing for the Black Knights, ranked dead last — No. 120 — in Football Bowl Subdivision passing offense.
Navy (2-5) at Notre Dame (4-3), 3:30 p.m.
TV: No coverage. Kidding — it’s Notre Dame, folks (NBC, Tom Hammond and Mike Mayock). Also available online.
History: The Midshipmen beat the Irish 35-17 last season. A win would be their third straight in a series that dates back to 1927. Number of times Navy’s won three straight against Notre Dame since 1927: Zero.
What you’ll see: A disciplined, run-focused Navy team could benefit from Notre Dame’s middle-of-the-road run defense and terrible turnover margin (second-worst in the FBS). But Notre Dame wideout Michael Floyd — a possible first-round NFL pick, according to some of the always-reliable super-early mock drafts — could torch a suspect Navy secondary.
Air Force (3-4, 1-3 Mountain West Conference) at New Mexico (0-7, 0-2 MWC), 2 p.m.
See it: The mtn. (Bill Doleman, Jay Leeuwenberg; DIRECTV channel 616)
Skip it: The Lobos have staked their claim as the worst team in the FBS with a winless record, a 69-0 loss to TCU last week and the September firing of their head coach. Las Vegas has installed the Falcons as slight favorite — 30 points, give or take.
Loving it: New Mexico could give the Falcons a chance to recover from last week’s 37-26 loss to unbeaten Boise State. And it could give junior fullback Mike DeWitt a chance to continue his coming-out party — he rattled off a team-best 108 yards on 18 carries against Boise.
