Army vs Tulsa Picks and Predictions for Friday October 23 2026
Army threw the football twice Saturday. Twice! And somehow scored 56 points. That’s what happens when you run for 479 yards and the other team can’t tackle anybody. The Black Knights beat Florida Atlantic 56-24, and now they’re heading to Tulsa for a Friday night American Conference game. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 PM ET on ESPN2 from H.A. Chapman Stadium. The line is almost dead even, with Tulsa favored by around 1.5 points at some books and Army a slight moneyline favorite at others. The total is roughly 52.5. That seems like a pretty interesting number after Army just ran all over a decent FAU team. Check out our free college football picks for more predictions.
Army Just Ran Everybody Over
Army is 4-2 overall and 3-1 in American Conference play. The Black Knights have been getting better, and Saturday’s 56-24 win over Florida Atlantic was their best offensive performance of the season. They scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions. Seven! The game was basically a track meet where only one team knew where the finish line was. Army had 479 rushing yards, averaged eight yards per carry, and scored eight touchdowns on the ground. That’s ridiculous production against a team that had won four straight coming into West Point.
The Black Knights don’t care much about throwing the football, and why should they when the running game is working like that? Army’s option attack makes defenders choose between the quarterback, the pitch man, and whoever else is coming around the corner. Pick wrong and somebody’s running 40 yards. Tulsa has to stay disciplined. One defender tries to make a hero play, loses his assignment, and Army has another first down. The Black Knights also chew up the clock, which can make it difficult for opponents to get enough possessions to recover from a bad start.
Cale Hellums ran for 195 yards and five touchdowns against FAU. Five rushing touchdowns from the quarterback. He carried 25 times, and Army kept feeding him because the Owls couldn’t stop him. Backup Bryson Luter added a 69-yard touchdown run late. That’s how Army finished with 479 rushing yards. The concern is whether the Black Knights can do it again on a short week. Tulsa has had some success defensively, and it’s not going to be surprised by the option. Knowing what’s coming and stopping it are two different things, though.
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Tulsa Has Some Life Again
Tulsa is 4-3, and the Golden Hurricane finally snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday with a 38-17 win at Rice. That was a much-needed result. Tulsa had lost to Arkansas, North Texas, and Navy, and things were starting to look pretty bleak. The Rice win got the Golden Hurricane back above .500 and gave them something positive to take into Friday. Tulsa is 2-1 at home, including a 24-10 win over Oklahoma State in the opener. That’s worth remembering. The Golden Hurricane have played some decent football at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
Tulsa’s offense has been up and down. The Golden Hurricane scored 44 against North Texas and still lost in overtime. They managed only six at Arkansas, then scored 26 at Navy and 38 at Rice. There’s enough offense here to make Army work. The defense is another question. Navy ran its option attack well enough to beat Tulsa 34-26, and now the Golden Hurricane have to face Army’s version. That’s not exactly the assignment I’d want on a short week. Tulsa needs to tackle better than FAU did Saturday, and it needs to avoid giving up long runs on first down.
The Golden Hurricane have been getting more comfortable offensively, and the Rice game showed what happens when they avoid mistakes. But facing Army changes the way you play. Tulsa might get only eight or nine possessions, so wasting two of them on turnovers or penalties can be a killer. The defense needs to win some early downs and force Army into third-and-long. That’s easier said than done against an option team. Tulsa has the home field, and I expect the Golden Hurricane to make a game of it. I just don’t know if they can stop Army often enough.
Army vs Tulsa Picks and Predictions
Army Moneyline (-114)
I’m taking Army to win. Tulsa is coming off a nice win at Rice, and playing at home helps. But Army just ran for 479 yards against Florida Atlantic, and the Black Knights have been getting better with every week. Tulsa already had trouble with Navy’s option offense, and Army’s attack is going to make the Golden Hurricane defend every gap. The biggest concern is the short turnaround. Army ran a lot of plays Saturday, and those offensive linemen are going to be sore. But Tulsa has to prepare for that option on the same short week. I trust Army to control the clock, avoid turnovers, and find enough rushing yards to win. Give me the Black Knights.
Over 52.5 Points (-110)
I’m going over 52.5, and this is one of those totals that could look foolish if Army decides to take eight minutes off the clock every time it touches the football. That’s always the danger with an option team. But the Black Knights just scored 56, and Tulsa has been allowing enough points to make me think Army can get into the 30s again. Tulsa has some offense of its own. The Golden Hurricane scored 38 at Rice and 44 against North Texas. I think both teams can find the end zone. The question is how many possessions they get. A 31-24 Army win gets us over, and I think that’s a reasonable way this game could play out.
Final Picks: Army Moneyline (-114) and Over 52.5 Points (-110)
This article was completed on October 18, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and game-time weather may change before Friday’s kickoff.
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