After taking down the nation’s top team last week, #5 Notre Dame (8-1) now takes on Boston College (4-5, 2-4). Shades of 1993, anyone?
Notre Dame is hoping history doesn’t repeat itself on Saturday, while the Eagles are eyeing an upset. Which of these two historic rivals will come out on top this afternoon?
The Fighting Irish are listed as 29.5-point favorites over the Eagles, with the total set at O/U 52.5 points. Below is my full preview, prediction and best bet for Saturday’s Boston College vs. Notre Dame matchup.
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Boston College vs. Notre Dame prediction, preview
BC, having just dropped two straight, needs a miracle at this point to qualify for a bowl game.The Eagles are averaging 351.4 yards per game on offense. Among their ACC rivals, only Clemson (6-3, 4-2) has been worse in that regard. Starting quarterback Mason McKenzie has thrown for 1,616 yards, ten touchdowns and eight interceptions this season. Granted, the dual-threat has also chipped in with 676 rushing yards and five additional scores.
With that being said, McKenzie is carrying an otherwise mediocre ground game. Boston College’s next-highest rusher is Bo MacCormack III with just 373 yards. Finding success in the trenches could prove difficult in Week 11. The Fighting Irish are exceptional up front, even at less than 100%. Notre Dame is allowing 2.87 yards per rush attempt to opponents this season. That’s good enough for 11th-best in the nation this season. As a unit, the Fighting Irish are surrendering just 14.6 points per game.
On the other side of the ball, Notre Dame will be looking to get out to a fast start. That’s something that has often eluded this program, even during games in which it holds a significant talent edge. At quarterback, CJ Carr has emerged as a trendy favorite to take home the Heisman Trophy. It’s easy to see why; through nine games, he’s thrown for 2,168 yards, 21 touchdowns and only one interception. The run game has been effective, although head coach Marcus Freeman hasn’t been shy about mixing things up. The trio of Nolan James Jr., Jonaz Walton and Aneyas Williams have all gotten a shot this season. Together, the three have combined for 1,418 rushing yards and 21 total touchdowns.
The good news for the Eagles? Defense is their clear strength. Still, that doesn’t mean much compared to a lackluster scoring attack. Boston College is allowing 343.9 yards per game to opponents, good enough for eight-best in the conference. Where this group has truly shined is in the secondary. BC is giving up just 187.3 passing yards per game, second-best in the ACC. To boot, the school has snagged 12 interceptions this season. On the ground, the Eagles have coughed up over four yards per rush attempt.
Boston College vs. Notre Dame Pick, Best Bet
If there’s one thing I feel confident about in this one, it’s Boston College’s inability to score. The program has tallied 16 points or less in four of eight games against Power Four competition. That’s unlikely to change on the road against Notre Dame’s elite defense. As for the Irish, Freeman and company will likely be content to burn clock in the second half en route to another comfortable victory. Still, a 30-point spread feels a bit too high for my liking on Saturday.
Best Bet: Boston College vs. Notre Dame under 52.5 (-108)
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