boston college (+8) 1 unit. likely my last college game of the year, since i have no opinion on tomorrow night's crap fest (what can i say? i like defense.) the more i look at bc, the lower this play gets. i liked them because they have the #1 ranked rush defense in the country. yup, you read that right. and that is based on both yards per game (80.17) and yards per carry (2.66). and i don't remember the numbers, but chris ault is very poor in bowl games. also, beating boise was nevada's super bowl, not the kraft fight hunger with cheap mac & cheese bowl on january 9, one day before the national championship game. so i think there are some definite advantages in this game for bc. HOWEVER....
bc has lost their last two bowl games, after that great run they were on.
bc won their last 5 games to get into this fine bowl game, but after beating clemson to start that run, they beat wake forest, duke, virginia, and syracuse (at syracuse, where EVERYBODY beat 'cuse). suddenly that 5-game win streak looks less impressive. here is where those opponents rank in the country in rushing offense: 79, 53, 104, 77, 76. and in total offense: 87, 109, 59, 38, 97. so they won 5 games against very offensively-challenged teams.
all that said, i think the grass field (i'm pretty sure it's grass) will help slow down nevada just a little. that, combined with bc's run defense and motivational edge should be enough for the eagles to keep this close.
bc has lost their last two bowl games, after that great run they were on.
bc won their last 5 games to get into this fine bowl game, but after beating clemson to start that run, they beat wake forest, duke, virginia, and syracuse (at syracuse, where EVERYBODY beat 'cuse). suddenly that 5-game win streak looks less impressive. here is where those opponents rank in the country in rushing offense: 79, 53, 104, 77, 76. and in total offense: 87, 109, 59, 38, 97. so they won 5 games against very offensively-challenged teams.
all that said, i think the grass field (i'm pretty sure it's grass) will help slow down nevada just a little. that, combined with bc's run defense and motivational edge should be enough for the eagles to keep this close.
