It’s been a brutal start to the year for Boston College, losers of three straight. The Eagles have hung around in every matchup, but late-game collapses have doomed them.
BC will get a chance to earn a much-needed victory tonight, but it won’t be easy. Pittsburgh is also looking to bounce back after blowing a winnable game vs. Louisville in Week 5.
Which of these Northeast ACC rivals will pick up a win on Saturday? Below is my prediction and pick for College Football Week 6’s game between the Boston College Eagles and the Pittsburgh Panthers.
Pittsburgh enters this contest as 6.5-point favorites (-108) over Boston College, with the over/under set at 56.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
Boston College vs. Pittsburgh prediction, preview
Neither of these programs rank among the nation’s elite. Still, in a top-heavy ACC, there’s room for both to make a push towards a bowl game. That’s exactly what Pitt has done in three of the last four seasons. Still, fans have grown somewhat frustrated with head coach Pat Narduzzi, now in his 11th year with the school.
That was evident last week, in a game that the Panthers led by ten points at halftime. 17 unanswered Louisville points in the second half led to a crushing loss. In addition, the team now has a bit of quarterback controversy. Starter Eli Holstein was pulled from the game following his second interception. Backup Cole Gonzales didn’t do much in the fourth quarter, connecting on three passes and throwing an interception of his own.
Until further notice, Holstein remains the team’s starter. However, it’s clear that Narduzzi is willing to make a mid-game change if his struggles continue. Perhaps the return of running back Desmond Reid will help out this beleaguered offense. The All-American missed last week’s contest with a lower body injury. In 2024, he led the Panthers with 1,545 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. The senior is currently listed as questionable.
This Boston College defense is not exactly dominant; they’ve allowed 27.5 points per game. If not for a Week 1 drubbing of Fordham, those numbers would look even worse. The team’s last three opponents have combined for a total of 100 points. No Eagles player has more than 1.0 sacks; the group has combined for just three turnovers.
It’ll likely be up to BC’s offense to deliver a win. Quarterback Dylan Lonergan has been impressive so far, throwing for 1,188 yards and nine touchdowns to three interceptions. On the ground, running back Turbo Richard leads the team with 329 rushing yards on 58 carries (5.7 YPC).
Unlike the Eagles, Pittsburgh’s defense generates tons of pressure. The Panthers rank sixth in college football with 3.5 sacks per game. However, the secondary has been less than stellar. Just look at last week, in which Louisville threw for 339 passing yards and three touchdowns. Lonergan, another capable QB, will hope to take advantage.
Boston College vs. Pittsburgh pick, best bet
Both of these teams have been among the most frustrating in the ACC. That’s what makes picking a winner in this matchup so difficult. Even if either club gets out to a fast start, no lead is safe between these two. Keeping that in mind, the safest bet might be on the over. Neither school has shown an ability to consistently get stops this season. Fans could be in store for a shootout on Saturday afternoon.
