Boston College Eagles (3-7, 2-5 ACC) vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-3)
There will be no shortage of red hair and freckles to witness the classic match-up between the Boston College Eagles and the Irish of Notre Dame.
Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend IN
Saturday, Nov. 19, 4:00 pm EST
NCAA Odds from Sportsbook.com:
MoneyLine: OFF
Spread: Boston College +24.5, Notre Dame -24.5
Over/Under: 47
This match-up may not have the pizzazz of year’s past, however. Boston College has limped to a 3-7 record this year. Though the Eagles have won two of their last three (against Maryland – one of the few teams worse in the ACC than the Eagles – and a squeaker against NC State) they got crushed by Florida State two weeks ago and have been beaten handedly by most of their opponents.
The problem in Chestnut Hill is that there just isn’t any offense to speak of. The Eagles are 113th in the nation in points for and have an 81st-ranked run game and a 105th-ranked pass game. Unless you have an LSU-esque suffocating defense (which the Eagles don’t) a football team is not going to win many games with that formula. It has been partially due to injuries: RB Montel Harris, who was the conference’s leading returning rusher in 2011, had arthroscopic knee surgery, is out for the year and was only able to play in two games. Harris was really the only threat for Boston College on offense going into the season.
The Irish certainly don’t have the same problems. Notre Dame scores plenty of points with its balanced running and passing attack. The Irish offense has been prolific for a few seasons now, but it’s much more balanced in 2011 than in years past. Running backs Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray have been an excellent one-two punch, combining for 1,637 rushing yards and 20 TDs. Quarterback Tommy Rees has also been great throwing to dynamic star WR Michael Floyd, who could eclipse 1,000 receiving yards on the season in this weekend’s game.
Notre Dame really has had a great season; it’s only been a stumbling 0-2 start at the beginning and a relatively no-show 31-17 loss versus Southern Cal that has blemished 2011 for the Golden Domers. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Irish have crushed teams of Boston College’s caliber this season, provided that head coach – and Massachusetts native – Brian Kelly has his players focused, this Saturday afternoon should be no different. True, there are some depth concerns with players banged up – second-leading WR Theo Riddick is listed as Questionable for this week and starting center Braxston Cave is out for the year – but it shouldn’t be anything overwhelming for the talented Irish squad.
Even before the season began, it was evident that Boston College would be a team that would have to lean on a stingy defense and production from Harris to have any success. With Harris out and some injuries to the defense, the Eagles have a pop-gun attack and haven’t been able to stop the big plays, either. With the remainder of the season consisting of playing the Irish this week in South Bend and at Miami next week, it could be a painful finish to a stomach-churning 2011 season for Boston College fans.
The Irish end their season with a much-anticipated tilt against #9 Stanford next week, but they have to take care of business at home first in order for the Stanford game to have its true allotment of hysteria. Look for Notre Dame to do just that, with Rees-to-Floyd and the running game being too much for the visiting Eagles to handle.
In a contest that perennially has hordes of Irish-Catholic Americans paying close attention, it should be the Fighting Irish that put the stomp down on the visitors from Massachusetts.
Score Prediction: Notre Dame 33, Boston College 12
Over/Under Prediction: 45
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