Boston College Football

After a roller coaster 2009 season, Boston College coach Frank Spaziani has his first full recruiting class under his belt. Unlike last year, there were not too many gaping holes to fill this year.

Last year, Luke Keuchly (Freshman All-American) was pressed into action because of injuries to all three starting linebackers, although this seemed to work out extremely well as Keuchly went on to have the second most tackles in all of college football.

Spaziani knew that this type of luck couldn’t last forever, and the coaching staff started establishing their 2010 class. Their first commitment of this class ultimately became their highest-ranked player.

Kevin Pierre-Louis is from The King & Low Heywood Thomas School in Connecticut and first committed to BC under the Jeff Jagodzinski regime, but withdrew that commitment after Jagodzinski was fired last January. He soon recommitted to Boston College after building a great relationship with the new coaching staff. Along with Pierre-Louis, the Eagles received pledges from other great defensive players like Steele Divitto, Dominic Appiah, and C.J. Jones.

Pierre-Louis and Divitto received a great amount of fanfare coming to the Heights, but we must not forget about some great talent on offense. Having two different starters in the 2009 season, the quarterback situation looked bleak for the Eagles.

In July of 2009, Chase Rettig of San Clemente, California committed to Boston College. Rettig is known to have exceptional velocity when he releases the ball, but still has to try and hone his accuracy in order to vie for the starting slot come September.

Another great offensive playmaker the Eagles were able to sign was Shakim Phillips of New Jersey.

After receiving nearly 20 offers from college programs, it was apparent that Shakim had some sorting out to do. It actually came as a surprise to many BC fans that Shakim displayed his loyalty to the Eagles.

Shakim played special teams and wide receiver at DePaul Catholic HS and was a playmaking threat every time he touched the ball. For Eagle fans hoping to see the likes of Matt Ryan and a new breed of wideouts at Alumni Stadium, they may very well get their wish as soon as next year.

Without any National Signing Day publicity, like many other top tier programs had, Boston College quietly put away Spaziani’s first class as a head coach. The Eagles did receive some great talent to fill necessary holes for next year, but they did fail to sign some great players they had atop their board.

That being said, only losing three starters on both sides of the ball this past year will be a great way to slowly get these new recruits in the process. This 2010 class doesn’t feel the same type of urgency that the 2009 class felt a year earlier, and I am confident that fans of Boston College hope that will translate to success immediately, as well as a few years down the road.

Headliner: Chase Rettig, QB

Sleeper: Josh Bordner, QB/LB

Grade: B+

2009 Emerald Bowl Odds: Boston College vs. USC Trojans Picks

The Boston College Golden Eagles face the USC Trojans in the Emerald Bowl on Saturday Dec. 26, 2009. The Emerald Bowl will take place at AT&T Park in San Francisco on Boxing Day.

The Oddsmakers currently have the Trojans favored by seven points, after the betting line opened to favor them by nine points earlier in the week. You can bet the Emerald Bowl online at BetUs.com and get an exclusive 100% deposit bonus up to $500 , so you deposit $500 and get $1000 in your account.

The Emerald Bowl is the first time the USC Trojans have not been in a BCS Bowl Game since 2001. This will be the 11th straight season that Boston College has played in a bowl game.

The Trojans are tied with Alabama for the most Bowl wins, at 31, coming into this game Saturday night. The posted total for this game is sitting at just 45 points, which may seem low to a lot of people considering this is a College football game. If you are looking for free Boston College vs. USC Trojans picks , I would suggest looking into betting this game to go under the posted total of 45 points.

Boston College has averaged 324.9 yards per game on offense this season while holding their opponents to just 318.4 ypg. The Golden Eagles defensively have been very solid against the run, with opponents averaging just 104.3 rushing yards per game against them.

The USC Trojans have averaged 385 yards per game this season while holding their opponents to just 342.8 ypg. Look for this Emerald Bowl game to be won by strong defensive play.

Check out the 2009 Emerald Bowl Odds and Boston College vs. USC Trojans Picks to come out on the winning side Saturday night.

Related posts:

1. 2009 Hawaii Bowl Odds: SMU Mustangs vs. Nevada Wolf Pack Picks
2. 2009 Poinsettia Bowl Betting: Utah Utes vs. California Golden Bears Picks
3. 2009 Las Vegas Bowl Betting: BYU Cougars vs. Oregon State Beavers Picks

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

The NCAA postseason kicks off Dec. 19, with 34 games being played in a three-week span. Seniors will get their last hurrah, and teams will attempt to end their seasons on the winning side in the hopes of improving recruiting that follows afterwards.

The Sportmeisters will preview each of the 34 games that lie ahead and provide our predictions as well. Let’s get to it!

Emerald Bowl, Dec. 26, 8:00 PM, San Francisco, CA

No. 24 University of Southern California (8-4) vs. Boston College (8-4)

About USC

Despite having a true freshman at QB, the stakes and expectations were still high for a USC team that has owned the better part of this decade. Even after a week three upset to Washington, the Trojans still had solid BCS hopes, defeating ranked teams such as Ohio State, California, and Notre Dame.

Then the wall hit. USC lost three of its next five games, all to Pac-10 opponents, to fall completely off the BCS radar and be relegated to the Emerald Bowl.

For a team that had finished second nationally in defense the past two seasons, this year's squad was a far cry from that. After losing a number of players, including their entire linebackers corps to the NFL draft, the Trojans were 43rd in defense (342.83 yards per game).

Leading the team was senior safety Taylor Mays, with 91 tackles and one interception. No other player on the team had 70 or more tackles. However, USC does get pressure, finishing 16th in NCAA FBS in tackles for loss (7.08 per game) and 17th in sacks (2.75 per game).

The Trojans were also just mediocre on the offensive side of the game, finishing outside the top 30 in all major categories, including scoring (64th with 26.67 points per game). The lone bright spot was junior RB Joe McKnight, who finished with 1,014 yards and eight touchdowns. Junior RB Allen Bradford also contributed eight touchdowns and an 8.17 yard per carry average.

True freshman QB Matt Barkley shined early on in the season, including a 380-yard, two touchdown performance against Notre Dame. However, he faded down the stretch, throwing for under 200 yards in four of his last five games. In that same five-game period, he threw seven of his 12 interceptions.

USC's plan has to be allowing McKnight to run the offense, with Barkley managing, and using the QB pressure to force turnovers, allowing for a short field.

About Boston College

The Eagles weren’t given much hope, picked to finish last in the ACC Atlantic Division behind such teams as Florida State and Wake Forest. However, behind a rookie coach in Frank Spaziani and the raucous cheering of LB Mark Herzlich (out for the season while battling cancer), Boston College made some heads turn.

Conference losses to Clemson and Virginia Tech hurt, but heading into the end of the season, the Eagles still had a chance. That shot was gone with a loss to North Carolina, but Boston College still ended their season as a team no one expected to be here.

The Eagles struggle offensively, falling into the bottom half of most offensive categories. They too have a true freshman QB leading the way, except theirs is 25 years old. Former minor league baseball player Dave Shinskie took the reins from freshman Justin Tuggle during the Wake Forest game and has held on to the spot ever since.

His numbers aren’t spectacular (1,823 yards, 14 touchdowns, 13 interceptions), and they reflect the struggles the offense has. The lone bright spot comes from sophomore Montel Harris, who rushed for 1,355 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Defensively, not many expected Boston College to challenge, with the losses of Herzlich and DT B.J. Raji, now in the NFL. Instead, the Eagles were 15th in rushing yards allowed, giving up only 104.42 yards a game. The defense also held opponents to only 19.42 points a game, 18th in NCAA FBS.

True freshman Luke Kuechly, filling in for the injured Herzlich, played like a man possessed all season long. His 142 tackles (12.5 for loss), sack, and interception were good enough to name him ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year. No other defender came within half of his tackles.

For Boston College to win, they will have to rely on their defense, especially the run defense, and force USC to use Barkley to make decisions instead of game managing.

The Matchup

USC is 31-16 in their storied bowl history, currently in a three-game winning streak within their nine straight bowl appearances. However, this is the first time since 2002 they are not playing in a BCS bowl game.

Boston College is 13-7 in bowl games, riding an 11-game appearance. Last year's loss to Vanderbilt snapped an eight-game bowl winning streak.

USC is currently 2-0 against Boston College, playing a home-and-home back in 1987 and 1988.

The game’s ultimate matchup is going to be McKnight vs. Kuechly within the USC offense vs. Boston College defense. However, Bradford could play a spoiler in that matchup, and with both USC RBs having speed to go side to side, Boston College could have some trouble keeping them within the tackles and limiting their yards. Both teams need to keep their QBs from turnovers and questionable throws.

The Prediction

USC will use their defensive pressure to get to Shinskie and Harris, and with the weapons they do possess on offense, they should get enough out of Barkley for the win, 35-21.

It's become a seemingly annual rite of passage for the Boston College Eagles to be counted out before the season has started. Each season, the preseason polls are taken and the (alleged) ACC cognoscenti pick them to finish anywhere from middle of the pack to dead last—as they did this year.

It has become so commonplace that much of the people surrounding the program have come to expect it and ignore it, though it would be accurate to say it's a thorn in the collective side of the Eagles' fanbase.

As far as those inside the program, one could expect the perennial slighting to be an oft-used motivational tool. Regardless of where they have been predicted to finish in their five years of ACC play, BC has never finished outside of the top two in their division.

In 2007, they were led all the way to No. 2 in the country by star QB Matt Ryan, only to drop two games, needing to win a huge game on the road at Clemson to advance. They did, which resulted in a first-place finish and the ACC Championship game.

Last season, BC needed to win out at Florida State, at Wake Forest, and against Maryland to make a repeat trip to the title game. Repeat, they did and with a starting QB who was gone for the season early in that Wake Forest contest.

This year, there were many reasons the media picked BC to finish sixth out of six teams in the Atlantic division, such as the following:

- Former coach Jeff Jagodzinski was fired for interviewing with the New York Jets for their vacant head coaching position.

- Former starting quarterback Dominique Davis transferred due to academic issues.

- ACC Player of the Year linebacker Mark Herzlich was diagnosed with cancer.

- Team captain Linebacker Mike McLaughlin injured his Achilles and missed several games to start the year.

- Just a couple of weeks ago, backup quarterback Justin Tuggle and backup running back Josh Haden, one of the highest-rated recruits BC has ever landed, decided to transfer.

Even after disheartening blowout losses at Clemson and Virginia Tech this season, the Eagles never wavered in their belief that they would be fighting for that ACC title at year's end.

“I’m not stunned,” first-year coach Frank Spaziani said. “We understood going in what our problems were. We had a long way to go, and we knew we had to try and manage our way through. These players never cease to amaze me and they never surprise me, never stun me here at Boston College. That’s one of the reasons I’m still here. So no, we’re not stunned."

The Eagles sit in second-place needing some help from the lowly Virgina Cavaliers to beat Clemson in addition to having to win out against North Carolina and Maryland in order to advance to the title game for a third straight year. But this is standard operating procedure for the Eagles; always fighting until the last week of the season.

Predictions have become only a motivating tool and are bereft of accuracy when it comes to the team from Chestnut Hill. So there is no telling what will happen when the Tar Heels come to town and the Clemson Tigers kick off vs. Virginia on Saturday but one thing is certain...

Boston College will be in it until the end in the ACC. Every year, every game, every play.

Is every October game involving Notre Dame played under the auspices of a blue-gray sky ? Even the soul-crushing "Mike Cloud Game" from 1998 is never not fresh in my memory. I was concerned—a Boston College graduate and fan—as we tailgated in the lot of Notre Dame Stadium.

Having arrived in South Bend early that morning and a mere couple hours later stepping foot on the Notre Dame campus, I had been forewarned whilst eating a below-average—for lack of a better term—breakfast at an airport Chili's To Go in the midst of my travels.

During the transfer leg of my red-eye flight, at roughly 5:30 a.m. local time, Rob Thomas's “This is How a Heart Breaks” did a little more than drone over the Chili's sound-system. Foreshadowing, I'd say, as the last time this power-ballad haunted me was at the hands of one "Dr. Azana," mid-day, at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas a few New Year's Weekends ago. I broke that day—financially and mentally—as her cards gave me a swift kick in the tookus to go along with her life story recounting the war in Yugoslavia during the time of Milošević.

As if it weren't bad enough, a dead ringer for Hugo Chávez shifty-eye stalked me in the middle of Foxtrot concourse in Chicago's O'Hare Airport as I made my way from the restaurant to my gate after breakfast tacos and coffee. Visions of heinous world leaders haunted my exhausted brain as I waited for the puddle-jumper to take me to Indiana. Thankfully, football was gracious enough to intercede.

After a longer layover than expected, I spent 19 minutes in the air, and touched-down in South Bend.

I'd been unable to find a reasonable ticket price, or a legitimate reason to arrive any earlier in enemy territory, so I spent the hours leading up to my flight following, via Twitter , the traditional Friday night hockey game—seats also expensive, and nearly impossible to come by—between the Fightin' Irish and the Eagles. While the Irish battled, the rematch of the 2008 Frozen Four final saw the Eagles come out on top 3-2. Even more disturbing was that I didn't feel I could get so greedy as to expect more than one pot of gold at the expense of the Irish over the course of a weekend.

Soon after I landed, my friend Joe picked me up and we went back to his hotel, where his mixed family—Notre Dame and BC grads both—welcomed me and we got ready to spend the day on campus. We went down and had a continental breakfast. I settled for a fruit plate, some orange juice, and more coffee.

We toured campus and the tailgating area, catching an impromptu concert by ND's Bagpipe Band, finally meeting up with some friends of friends—Domers all—in the parking lot for their tailgate. Hot cider, beef stew, and Halloween candy was the spread. At this point, the sky trended more gray than blue, a brisk wind and drizzle overhead, while a patch of clear sky hovered in the horizon.

Leaving the tailgate, we headed to the middle of campus to see the Notre Dame Marching Band's concert on the steps of Bond Hall. We weren't the only Eagle fans to witness this pageantry either, for it is the type of thing that makes a BC-ND game much more special than, say, a Patriots-Bears tilt. The drizzle began to subside as we made it back toward the stadium, stopping to see the Irish squad on their walk from pre-game Mass into the stadium.

At this point, I started to gain confidence in my team, though I had yet to see them take the field. The Irish, while not completely insouciant, looked nearly to a man as if they felt the inevitable coming—taking one on the chin for the seventh straight contest against BC.

After the players passed, we headed for the entrance and arrived at our seats in the south endzone, looking straight ahead at the iconic Touchdown Jesus. The Marching Band provided the music and pre-game show while the teams prepared in their locker rooms and the skies began to clear.

Notre Dame got off to an early lead with a field goal, and a few series later, the Eagle defense got Irish quarterback Jimmy Clausen to intentionally ground a pass in the endzone resulting in an Eagle safety and the atypical—and reverse of the previous night's hockey game—score of 3-2. The general pace of the game was a slog, much like the field conditions. The oft-missed Turf Monster of Eagles games gone-by even came out to make a few tackles for the visitors.

The weather warmed, yet ultimately cooled for good by the half, but with no more rain. I maintained my steady consumption of coffee—to keep me warm, stimulated, and to possibly ward off the swine flu I thought I might be catching due to the exhausting travel.  It worked.

With the Eagles trailing at halftime, 13-9, we watched the Notre Dame Marching Band perform on the full field. While the football teams have been on relatively equal footing over the last decade-and-a-half, this band's show was head-and-shoulders above anything I've seen out of the BC band.

Boston College battled back—largely in part to a breakout performance by wide receiver Rich Gunnell who finished the day with 10 receptions for 179 yards and a touchdown—and led 16-13 until the 8:12 mark in the fourth quarter, when Irish standout Golden Tate caught a pass on the Eagle sideline, shimmied, and made a couple more Eagles miss on his way to a 36-yard touchdown reception. The game ended without another score, but with BC quarterback Dave Shinskie throwing a couple crippling interceptions in the waning minutes, and the Irish emerged the victor, 20-16 .

My heart officially broke, just as I was afraid of some nearly 12 hours previous. It was not a game the Eagles deserved to win, though the Irish did not stake much of a claim to it either. I justified it to myself: Perhaps it was simply time for the Irish to get of the schneid and one Eagle victory over the weekend was better than none.

We finished the day, repairing to an Italian restaurant, though without reservations and a motley half of us wearing the maroon and gold, we were sequestered to the outer banks of the establishment where, amongst other Eagle-clad diners, we sat in the deli wing.  After one IPA, I had to revert back to coffee, like I had during the entirety of my waking day, to keep me upright. We made it back to the hotel fine and the next day was to see me take in the Windy City for an afternoon.

While my plan was to enjoy on Sunday a city I had not but driven through a few times, I had also planned on better spirits and an Eagle victory. We headed back to O'Hare in the van of mixed allegiances, though instead of wishing my goodbyes to the others as we unloaded off the rental car bus and into the United terminal, I got in front of a kiosk to look for a standby ticket back to PDX. I was able to see my friends off to Providence and ultimately got on a flight leaving from the adjacent gate that would only see me tarry in Charlie concourse for little more than two hours.

I was home, decompressing from the weekend, some six hours earlier than originally intended, and finally got some well-deserved sleep. While tiring, the 2009 experience was almost refreshing compared to the hours after the 2008 game—a truly unbelievable tale that I may never completely get into print. Nevertheless, an Eagle victory always makes for better travel.

With Notre Dame now leading the all-time football series 10-9, next year's final (as of now) battle—with what looks to be more experienced squads on both sides—shapes up to be one of the best ever.

We are half way through the season, so it is time for a review of what each team has accomplished in the season’s first half.

This year no team has truly set itself head-and-shoulders above the pack (where are you, Texas and Florida?), and parity seems to be the norm for this season (Boise St., Cincinnati, Iowa, and TCU all occupy spots in the top 10). Each major conference has multiple members ranked in the AP poll, and there are still several teams that could vie for a spot in the National Championship game.

Certain teams came into 2009 with sky high expectations (Ole Miss, Rutgers, Ohio St., Ball St., and Oklahoma) and have fallen flat on their faces in the early going, while others have exceeded expectations and made their presence known in the early stages of the '09-'10 college football season (Houston, Pittsburgh, Idaho, Nebraska, and Arizona).

So here we go:

ACC Atlantic Division (Listed by current standings)

Boston College: Record: 5-2 (3-2 in ACC)

Boston College has played solid football throughout the season’s early going. Wins over Northeastern and Kent State were predicted, but a loss against a troubled Clemson squad and a shellacking at the hands of Virginia Tech have hurt the Eagles in the early going. A surprise win against Florida St. and an absolute massacre of NC St. have the Eagles looking optimistically at the season’s second half.

The second half is not overly difficult to navigate, with games against UNC and Central Michigan and trips to Virginia and Maryland in store. Boston College’s biggest test will be its game this week at Notre Dame. Boston College has a five game winning streak against the Irish and continuing that streak on Saturday would not only give the Eagles a win in the “Holy War”, it could also propel them to a strong finish.

Overall Grade: B+

The Eagles will only go as far as their defense can carry them. Their defense has been solid in wins, but was abysmal in the Eagles' loss to Virginia Tech, surrendering 441 yards of offense. The Eagles need 25-year-old freshman wonder child Dave Shinskie to step up in the second half if they have any inclinations of remaining in first in the ACC Atlantic Division.

Clemson: Record: 3-3 (2-2 in ACC)

In Dabo Swinney’s first full year as the head coach of the Tigers, Clemson has seen itself involved in a host of close games. Clemson’s three losses have been by a combined 10 points against Maryland, TCU, and Georgia Tech.

Wins against Middle Tennessee St., Boston College, and a good Wake Forest team have been solid victories in which the stalwart defense has kept opponents in check.

The second half does not look favorable for Clemson. Road games at Miami and South Carolina are treacherous, while home dates with Florida State and a resurgent Virginia team could dispel any dreams Clemson has of playing in the ACC championship game. Kyle Parker needs to get more comfortable in the passing game to take pressure off all-world talent running back C.J Spiller.

Overall Grade: B-

Clemson knew coming into the season that it would have to win early on in the schedule to go bowling. The loss against Maryland was bad, just bad. The second half is imposing and does not play out well for the Tigers. Clemson’s 11th ranked defense will have to carry the load down the stretch, and Spiller will have to get more involved if Clemson is to see the postseason.

Wake Forest: Record 4-3 (2-2 in ACC)

Wake Forest has had a solid opening slate of games with wins against Stanford, NC State, Elon, and Maryland. Quarterback Riley Skinner has been efficient in the early going for the Demon Deacons and has been the ACC’s third most proficient passer,  responsible for 251.1 yards per game.

A beating at the hands of Clemson is Wake Forest’s lone blemish, as its other two defeats have been close losses against tough Baylor and Boston College teams.

Wake Forest’s second half just sent a chill up and down my spine. Games against Navy, Miami, Georgia Tech, Florida State, and Duke could all spell trouble for the Demon Deacons.

All of their remaining games, minus the one versus Florida State, are against teams with .500 or better records. Wake Forest will struggle to find footing down the stretch, and Wake may be missing out on some action during the winter.

Overall Grade: B-

Wake has not played poorly in a game, except for its foray against Clemson. The defense has been mediocre and kept the Deacons in games, while Skinner and receivers Marshall Williams and Chris Givens have played admirably in the early going. Skinner and co. will have to keep the pressure on to secure a spot in a bowl game.

Maryland: Record 2-5 (1-2 in ACC)

Maryland has been downright bad in the early going. Barely escaping with a win against FCS James Madison and a loss at home against Middle Tennessee are absolutely incorrigible.

The only bright spot on Maryland’s opening record is its win over Clemson. The Terps' defense has been awful, allowing rushers to average over four yards per carry and allowing 377 yards per game.

The Terrapins remaining schedule is just as damning as the opening slate. Games against NC State, Virginia Tech, Florida State, and Georgia Tech could mean Maryland will end the season with a 2-9 record. Maryland will need to pull itself together down the back stretch to salvage any respectability for this lost season.

Grade: D

The win against Clemson saves Maryland from completely failing, and this is also a rebuilding season for the once-proud Terrapins squad. Losing 30 seniors to graduation is always going to hurt a program, but barely beating FCS opponents is awful, and losing at home against Middle Tennessee State is bad for all involved.

Ralph Friedgen may find himself on the hot seat this off-season. Friedgen has been on the job for nine years and the Terrapins have seen their highs with him at the helm (notably, his first season with Maryland in 2001 when the Terps won the school’s first outright ACC title).

Those days are definitely in the past, and the offensive wizard will need to retool the way he conducts his program.

North Carolina State: Record 3-4 (0-3 in ACC)

NC State may be the kid that sits in the back of the classroom, doesn’t answer any questions, doesn’t do any homework, but is one of the most intelligent kids when he actually contributes to the class. NC State drudged through its early season schedule with wins against FCS opponents Murray St. and Gardner Webb, and losses against everyone else on the schedule (S. Carolina, Wake Forest, Duke, and Boston College).

Those losses are to be expected of the child who takes up space in the back of the class, but the talent the Wolfpack have made an appearance when they handed nationally-ranked Pitt its only loss thus far.

Sophomore Russell Wilson has been impressive in the early going, but the play of the talented underclassman has not led to many victories.

The second half has difficult games against Florida State, Clemson, and Virginia Tech. NC State should be able to taste victory in its battles with Maryland and UNC, but from here on out it is an uphill battle for the Wolfpack.

Grade: D

The child in the back of the room just manages to pass, but is doomed in the upcoming tests. The offense has been mediocre, largely due to an ineffective running game. Coach Tom O’ Brien needs to rework some of the offensive tendencies to get the rushing attack up and moving. The defense also needs to clamp down and give the team the opportunity to stay in the game.

Florida State: Record 2-4 (0-3 in ACC)

Bobby Bowden has seen Florida St. rise to be the talk of college football, and then crumple into a heap just as quickly. A strong game against Miami on opening night and a win at BYU in Week Three had Seminoles fans believing a strong season was in store. But three consecutive losses against South Florida, Boston College, and Georgia Tech have created doubters and questioners.

The Seminoles can put a positive spin on this season with wins over remaining opponents UNC, NC State, Wake Forest, and Maryland. FSU could even throw itself into the division championship with a win at Clemson on Nov. 7. Florida State closes the season with intrastate rival the Florida Gators, and at that point the 'Noles could be playing spoiler or they could be looking at a possible bowl berth.

Grade: D

Up to this point the Seminoles have not performed up to their potential but I believe they are closer to being a one-loss team instead of a four-loss teams. Their largest margin of defeat was against South Florida by 10, and they could have won every game on their schedule thus far.

If Bowden is able to rally the troops, look for him to either make a postseason push, or ruin some other team’s season.

This Saturday brings us the fifth matchup between the Virginia Tech Hokies and Boston College Eagles in the last three years—which leads the nation in that most unofficial of stats.

This will be the 12th contest of this decade and the 17th consecutive season that the two have met albeit in two different conferences.

You can’t say you hear or read about it all that much nationally, but it’s a rivalry that has determined the last two ACC Champions and thus the BCS landscape.

No one, certainly not I, would suggest that it is among the most historic or elite of college football’s rivalries. After all, the 17-year history cannot compare to the 102-year battle that wages on with Michigan and Ohio State. It does not possess the vitriolic tone of the Alabama/Auburn Iron Bowl, the high stakes of the Red River shootout between Oklahoma and Texas, nor the poignancy of Army versus Navy.

But, I assure you, this game should be on your radar each season.

Virginia Tech has long been known as a team that defends its home turf well, with Lane Stadium rocking out to “Enter Sandman” at the onset of each home game. Throw in a little lunch pail defense along with the most consistently dominant special teams in the country and it is no surprise that they have not lost a game there since October 2007— even that one taking a miraculous comeback orchestrated by a BC-led Matt Ryan squad. Home losses are simply rare in Hokie Land.

Boston College is the program that earns its respect on the field, rarely ranked in the preseason, often surprising critics along the way each year. Picked by many to finish last in the ACC Atlantic Division last year, the Eagles fought their way to a first place finish and a second consecutive bout with the Hokies in the ACC Championship Game.

Unfortunately for Eagles fans, that resulted in a second consecutive gut-wrenching defeat and a continued gaze from the outside looking in at the BCS party.

This year’s battle possesses all the intrigue of the past few seasons with the winner taking the driver’s seat in its respective division, on its way to a third consecutive ACC title game appearance.

Virginia Tech comes in on a four-game winning streak behind the powerful running game of freshman Ryan Williams and the dynamic dual-threat QB Tyrod Taylor. 

Williams ranks eighth in the FBS in rushing and leads the ground game that is averaging over 203 yards per game, second in the ACC. Virginia Tech’s biggest issue on offense has been trying to find the balance it needs to compete if the ground game happens to falter.

Tyrod Taylor had completed only 47 percent of his passes through four games, until he lit up the skies last week in a win at hapless Duke. Taylor went 17-for-22 for a career-high 327 yards and two TDs, allowing the Hokies to overcome 12 penalties in the 34-26 victory.

Uncharacteristically, the Hokies have not been as stout defensively and barely crack the top 50 in total defense. They have also been flagged 38 times in five games, making them one of the more penalized teams in the nation. The Hokies will need to be a more disciplined team on Saturday afternoon as the Eagles will take advantage of free yardage much more efficiently than the Blue Devils did.

Boston College is off to a surprising 4-1 start, including a two-game conference winning streak highlighted by last week’s upset of Florida State.

An embarrassing loss at Clemson on September 19 in which they gained only 54 yards of offense was the impetus for a change at quarterback. Dave Shinskie, the 25-year-old former baseball playing freshman, took the reins against Wake Forest and FSU and picked up 431 yards, five TDs and only one pick in those two contests.

By completing 60 percent of his passes, it has allowed BC to open up the running game by creating the balance that it lacked through the first three games. The rushing attack is led by sophomore Montel Harris, who is averaging 90 yards per game and had a breakout performance in last week’s win by picking up 179 yards and two TDs.

Despite losing two top NFL picks on the defensive line, and almost their entire starting linebacking corps, BC has managed to remain fierce on the defensive side of the ball.

Under the tutelage of longtime defensive coordinator, and now head coach Frank Spaziani, the Eagles rank in the top 25 in the country in total and rushing defense. Senior captain middle linebacker Mike McLaughlin has returned from injury and the outstanding play from younger players like Luke Keuchly had greatly improved the defensive performance.

Special teams always play a role in these contests and Virginia Tech will have the advantage again, regardless of what the stats may read at this stage of the season. It is worth noting, however, that BC standout senior wideout Rich Gunnell has the skills to return punts and went to the house on the Hokies last season.

Summary

Expect BC to load up on the Hokies’ formidable rushing attack and force Taylor to throw the ball. Taylor was able to gash them last season, with a better defense than this year, on the ground. So staying home on assignments will be paramount for BC to contain the big play. Combine that with Ryan Williams’ ability to churn out the yards and BC will have its hands full in Lane Stadium.

Offensively, BC continues to gain confidence and will have to continue to improve in pass-blocking situations. Clemson killed them several weeks ago with run blitzes and consistent pressure on the QB, resulting in an abysmal performance. Expect Virginia Tech to throw the kitchen sink at Shinskie, who despite his age, is still a freshman and is still a long way from polished under center.

Prediction—I think it would be asking too much for BC, who is improving by the week, to be able to stop this Hokie team at Lane Stadium. Virginia Tech 30, BC 17.

So, we are primed for today’s tussle of the underdog Eagles and the formidable host Hokies, it may not be historic but it definitely needs to be on everyone’s radar.

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Boston College Eagles (4-1) at Virginia Tech Hokies (4-1)

College Football: Oct. 10, 2009 12:00 EST (GAMEPLAN)

The Line: Virginia Tech -13

Two teams who are very familiar with one another meet in Blacksburg as the Virginia Tech Hokies host the Boston College Eagles in an ACC contest. These two have met in the ACC title game the past two seasons, making this the sixth meeting in three years for these two teams.

Virginia Tech has been on a roll since their season-opening loss to Alabama, and they have been getting it done the same way they have gotten it done under Frank Beamer for his entire tenure coaching the Hokies.

Virginia Tech doesn't do a lot that is fancy; they play solid defense and special teams and put their offense in a position where they always have a chance to win the game. We have seen no better example of this than the Nebraska game, where QB Tyrod Taylor made a fourth down completion in the end zone for the win with 12 seconds on the clock.

The Hokies' special teams has been alive and well, creating scores against both Miami and Alabama.

Lane Stadium is a tough building, and it doesn't get any easier when the Hokies are running the ball effectively and tackling like the well-coached bunch they are.

Two games ago Boston College looked like a lost cause. They were coming off of their first loss of the season, a game where they had gained a total of 52 yards. However, two games later they are 4-1 and winners of back-to-back conference games.

Boston College has done it by going back to what is essentially their game. They use the power running game to control the ball and time of possession and use the run to set up the pass. Montel Harris had the monster game running against FSU, and against Wake Forest it was Josh Haden with 93 yards.

Boston College has gone through a few coaching changes over the past few seasons, but one thing remains the same: They recruit smart, fundamentally sound football players who understand the game and execute well. It's a simple formula that has produced long-term success.

Virginia Tech is 6-1 against the spread in their last seven against a team with a winning record but are just 3-8 against the spread in their last 11 home games. Boston College is 5-1 against the spread in their last six games against a team with a winning record but are just 1-5 against the spread in their last six road games.

Boston College has covered in eight of their last 11 games against Virginia Tech, including six of the last eight games in Blacksburg.

A few weeks ago I would have thought BC would be lucky to get 10 yards against Bud Foster's defense—what a difference a few weeks makes. Boston College generally covers against the Hokies because these teams are very similar in the way they go about things, and this makes for close games.

Mitch's Pick: Boston College +13

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Someone has finally taken a stand.

Corporate America will no longer endorse a Bowl Game where a team is rewarded a prestigious location and New Year's date because they have earned it. 

No! Months of hard work, dedication, "blood, sweat, and tears" will no longer be cause for jubilation.  Sponsors just receive bailouts after all! Non-sellout crowds and deserving programs cannot and will not be tolerated.

It has long been known the Bowl Championship Series has been flawed, and likewise, it has been no secret for years on end that the NCAA has no intention of fixing it. 

That knowledge served as wind beneath the wings of the Gator Bowl today as it chose not to extend its relationship with the Atlantic Coast Conference beyond the 2009 season.

Largely in part to the "Boston College Rule," a policy endorsed by the whole of the ACC which actually forces the bowls to pick its ACC affiliate on merit and record, the Gator Bowl Committee concluded the relationship with the conference could no longer work.  A relationship that has lasted over 13 years without fail, ended over money.

The "B.C. Rule," more properly termed the "one-win rule," states that a bowl can select a team within one conference win/loss of the best qualified team on the board.  For example, if Boston College goes 6-4, but does not make a BCS game, the next highest bowl has to pick BC or a team that went 5-5 in conference.  It was put in place after the university dropped to the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho its first year in the conference, despite a better finish that many other bowl-eligible ACC teams.

The problem, for Corporate America, you ask?

Despite having a beautiful campuses and generous Alumni, as well as many players in the NFL, some schools from the conference simply do not travel as well as others.

While Boston College and the University of Miami may deliver huge television rating, they are small schools with fan bases that often do not make the long trek for the late December games.  Moreover, if a team like BC made it to the ACC Championship Game, it's fans are forced to pay airfare within a week of flying out from the northeast to Florida, which I assure you, is not light on the wallet.

A television network is pleased to see these schools on their menu, as they know college football rules the airwaves at this time of year and the schools pack a punch in ratings, but the corporate sponsors of the bowls do not like having their name associated with empty seats. 

Tickets, merchandise, and banners will go unpurchased, unused, or unseen by droves because of the "one-win rule" forcing the bowl to select a deserving school over a fan base that is within driving distance, or "graduates" thousands a year and captivates locals.

Fans of Boston College know this all too well.  They have been told they do not travel well, and they do not deny it.  But they are a small and young fan base, growing annually, but slowly nonetheless.

The effort their players put on and off the field is no different than that exerted by Virginia Polytechnic Institute, North Carolina State, or Clemson.  Corporate America does not reward effort though, it rewards results, and not the results one the field, but in the ticket offices.

Thankfully, for them, there is the Gator Bowl; their night in shining armor. 

As if President Obama (no disrespect meant to the President associating him with the terrible BCS process) his self were the chairman, reaching out to the corporate sponsors, thanking them exporting their jobs overseas and raising prices so that the average fan must choose between football or food, the Gator Bowl said please, take a second bailout company-X (Toyota, last year, ironically). 

We will make sure you get a team that may not deserve to be here, but will pack our stadium.  Our bowl has been in rapid decline, and we will sell our soul for a chance at the lime light again.

Not for nothing, but Jacksonville is not an easy location to travel to, with an airport a half hour and $50 cab ride from its city center.  Let them not forget, your average student cannot rent a car without a sizable insurance policy. 

In case they needed a reminder, their city is not the safest in the country, and police officers and cab drivers alike will tell you not to venture far from the outdoor mall alone. To go further, despite being in Florida, it is not too warm at that time of the year either.

Frankly, as an ACC fan, I was glad to see the city remove itself from association with the ACC Championship Game, and though I would have taken a trip to the Gator Bowl, I am not sad to see it go. 

A city often portrayed as sleazy and crime-riddled city stepping up to the plate for Corporate America, refusing to give credit where credit is due, welcoming fat wallets over deserving kids? 

Why am I not surprised.

Your hero, Wall Street: Jacksonville, Florida, home of the Gator Bowl.

Miami is catching all the attention in the Coastal Division, and Florida State's up and downs are all the talk in the Atlantic Division.

The truth of the matter is Virginia Tech is the front-runner for the Coastal, and Boston College is emerging as the team that wants to win the Atlantic.

This Saturday could be a possible preview of the ACC Championship Game this year. As Boston College heads to Blacksburg to take on the No. 5 team in the country, Virginia Tech.

The teams are very similar in spreading the wealth so far this season. Boston College has 14 total touchdowns, five on the ground, and nine through to air. Virginia Tech has 17 total touchdowns, with eleven coming on the ground, and six through the air.

So these two teams will match-up better than a lot of people would think.

What Boston College Brings to the Game:

Boston College had a lot of quarterback questions as to who would step up and lead the team. They have found a leader in Dave Shinskie. With over 600 yards passing and seven touchdowns he is helping Boston College emerge as the front runner in the Atlantic Division.

BC runningback Montel Harris has racked up over 400 yards rushing with five touchdowns making him a solid threat for the Eagles.

Also, the Eagles have had eight receivers reach the endzone already this season.

That is an incredible number, especially for a Virginia Tech secondary that is having problems stopping the big pass plays this season. Boston College has shown a lot of options in the passing game and that will make the assignments for the Hokies even more difficult.

The story is pretty similar for the Hokies.

What Virginia Tech Brings to the Game:

There was never a question as to "who" the quarterback would be, but rather "how" he would perform.

Tyrod Taylor has answered the questions by already throwing more touchdowns this year than he did all of last season. He is also well on his way to his career high for passing yardage. He is proving he can lead the Hokies with his arm as well as his legs.

Ryan Williams is the star in the backfield for Virginia Tech. Held scoreless against the Blue Devils, he still has eight touchdowns, and 570 yards rushing on the season.

Virginia Tech has several weapons in the passing game as well, with four receivers with at least one touchdown this season. The best target so far has been Jarret Boykin, who has sixteen receptions for close to 300 yards and two touchdowns.

What's up for Grabs?

These two teams will meet Saturday in an ACC match-up that has a lot of meaning for both teams.

Virginia Tech (4-1, 2-0) needs to avoid an ACC loss to stay ahead of Miami and Georgia Tech who are both true threats to the ACC crown. Boston College (4-1, 2-1) needs the win to solidify their spot in what is now a wide open Atlantic Division, just waiting for someone to take it by storm.

There is an underlying story to this game as well. Boston College star player Mark Herzlich is battling cancer. He has been unable to play this year because of treatment, however, Virginia Tech has been raising money for his cause at their home games.

So Saturday Virginia Tech will present Mark Herzlich the money they have raised to aid his cause. It is great to see the Hokies show concern and take action to help a fellow athlete in his fight against cancer.

This game has a lot of meaning on, and off the field for both teams. It will be a very competitive game and could be a glimpse of the teams meeting in Tampa for the ACC Championship Game.