Navy vs Cincinnati Prediction and Pick AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL Picks, College Football Picks

An exciting AutoZone Liberty Bowl is scheduled to take place during the postseason of 2025. The game will feature the Navy Midshipmen competing against the Cincinnati Bearcats. The match is scheduled to take place at the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, on the afternoon of Friday, January 2, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. Fans will be able to watch the action unfold live on ESPN as these two teams compete against one another on the field outside.

Navy, who is ranked #22 in the Associated Press Poll and #25 in the Coaches Poll, comes into the game looking to dominate their conference with a 7-1 record. They have a great 9-2 record. In their most recent matches, the Midshipmen have demonstrated their outstanding performance, including a noteworthy victory over the Memphis Tigers at the very stadium where this bowl game is scheduled to take place. Navy, who has a perfect record at home, has a 6-0 record, and they are want to extend their excellent season.

On the other hand, the Cincinnati Bearcats, who are a member of the Big 12 conference, have had a difficult season with a record of 7-5, including a conference record of 5-4 against their opponents. Cincinnati will attempt to capitalize on their strong home record of 5-3 as they get ready to take on a powerful Navy team, despite the fact that they have been experiencing some difficulties recently. The Bearcats have the opportunity to defy expectations and finish their season on a positive note, since the game odds indicate that Navy is a slight favorite to win the game.

During the current season, the Cincinnati Bearcats have scored 381 points, which places them in the 33rd spot among all teams in the country. Because of their ground assault, they have generated 2,171 rushing yards, which places them 45th overall, while their passing game has produced 2,895 yards, which places them in the 53rd overall position. Despite ranking 48th in this area, Cincinnati’s offense demonstrates a balanced approach, as evidenced by the 244 first downs they have accumulated.

The quarterback, Brendan Sorsby, has been an outstanding performer, topping the club in both the number of touchdown passes and the number of yards thrown, with a total of 2,786. By rushing for 709 yards and scoring four touchdowns, running back Tawee Walker has contributed to the offense’s increased dimensionality. With 48 receptions, 651 yards, and 11 touchdowns, wide receiver Cyrus Allen has been the most desired target. He has also been the most productive receiver.

Within the realm of defense, the Bearcats have conceded 298 points, which places them in the 105th position in terms of points against. Despite this, they have been able to exert pressure on the quarterback, which has been a bright spot for them. They have 23 sacks, which places them 19th. Additionally, Cincinnati’s defense has been adept at seizing opportunities, as evidenced by their ranking of third in interceptions with two and eighth in fumble recoveries with seven.

In recent games, the defense has suffered from a lack of success, allowing 45 points to TCU and 26 points to BYU. In spite of these obstacles, the Bearcats’ defense continues to be an extremely tough force when it comes to preventing the passing game and generating turnovers.

Cincinnati’s recent performance has been uneven, as seen by the fact that they have lost four of their most recent five games. The most recent game they played against TCU resulted in a 45-23 loss, which highlighted the weaknesses in their defensive play. Despite a good throwing effort that resulted in 300 yards via the air, the Bearcats were unsuccessful in their game against BYU, which they lost by a score of 26-14.

One of their most recent victories was against Baylor, which they won 41-20, demonstrating their offensive capabilities. This victory was their only recent triumph. Despite their best efforts, the Bearcats continue to struggle with maintaining consistency as they want to finish the season on a positive note.

Over the course of the 2025 regular season, the Navy Midshipmen have been quite successful on the ground, as seen by their ranking of second in the country with 3,321 running yards. The passing game of this team is very lacking, as they are ranked 127th with only 1,500 yards, despite the fact that they are dominant in the rushing game. Because of this offensive strategy that only focuses on one dimension, the team has accumulated a total of 357 points, which places them in 43rd place overall for points scored.

When compared to the previous season, the Midshipmen saw a little improvement in their rushing department, moving up from sixth to second place. On the other hand, their throwing yards rank stayed largely intact. Based on this, it appears that they continue to rely heavily on the ground game, which continues to be their offensive signature.

104th in the nation in terms of defensive performance, the Midshipmen have allowed 296 points to be scored against them. They have a significant rank of sixth in interceptions and eighth in fumbles recovered, which indicates that their defensive strength comes in the generation of turnovers. Navy has a significant advantage in that they are able to interrupt the offenses of their opponents.

Their sack production, which is ranked seventeenth, indicates that they are capable of applying pressure; yet, it is possible that they do not complete plays behind the line of scrimmage on a consistent basis. By the time they reach the end of the season, it will be extremely important for the defense to maintain its ability to force turnovers.

Navy’s recent victory versus Memphis, which they won by a score of 28-17, highlighted their rushing prowess by allowing 212 yards on the ground. Even though they had a less impressive passing performance, the Midshipmen were able to maintain control of the game by accumulating 21 first downs, which highlighted their time-of-possession approach.

Navy’s offense burst with 339 rushing yards, overcoming a defensive struggle in which they allowed 356 passing yards. The result was a narrow victory for Navy versus South Florida, which they won by a score of 41-38. Their capacity to capitalize on turnovers, which resulted in two fumbles being forced, was a significant factor in ensuring that they won.

Over the course of ten games, quarterback Blake Horvath has been a pivotal figure, making a substantial contribution with 1,390 passing yards and nine touchdowns. The minimal but essential passing efforts that Navy makes are supported by his performance. Alex Tecza is the driving force behind the offensive engine of the Midshipmen, as he leads the team in rushing yards with 772 and has scored nine touchdowns.

A dual threat that complements the rushing assault is provided by Eli Heidenreich, who has 805 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Heidenreich’s versatility is a significant addition. It is the Navy’s ground-and-pound identity that is supported by this varied offensive weaponry.

Currently ranked 22nd in the AP Poll, Navy comes into the AutoZone Liberty Bowl with an amazing record of 9-2 across all games played. They have been able to power their successful season with their powerful rushing offense, which ranks second in the nation. This makes them a formidable opponent for any defense. Navy is a great bet against the spread, as they are a 2.5-point favorite, and their well-rounded game, in addition to their recent success, further strengthens their position.

The Cincinnati Bengals, on the other hand, have had a less successful season with a record of 7-5. They have been struggling recently, as evidenced by their most recent game, which they lost to TCU by a score of 23-45. Even though they have performed well at home, there is cause for concern regarding their inconsistent performance in conference games and their overall record. The dominant advantage in this battle belongs to Navy because of their well-rounded offensive and defensive capabilities.

Since the beginning of the season, the Bearcats have struggled defensively, as they have allowed 298 points, placing them 105th in terms of points against. Navy is in a strong position to take advantage of Cincinnati’s defensive shortcomings because of their ability to control the clock and dominate the run game. In light of this, taking Navy with the spread is even more supported.

Navy is the favorite to cover the 2.5-point spread, taking into consideration the current odds and the performance of the squad. The outstanding season record of the Midshipmen and the tactical advantages they possess predict that the final score will be Navy 28 – Cincinnati 24, which is consistent with their reputation as the leading contenders.

✅ Our Navy vs Cincinnati Prediction: Navy

 

Navy vs Cincinnati Prediction and Pick AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL Picks, College Football Picks, by YouWager.lv.