Boston College gets a fresh chance to break through in ACC play this week, but the assignment is a rugged one. The Eagles are still searching for their first conference win, and Pitt comes to town with a 2-1 mark in ACC games and a spot in the CFB Top 25 until last week. Even so, Boston College did hang around against SMU, which is ranked now, so the question is whether they can summon that same fight against the Panthers.
That matchup is only one piece of a busy ACC slate. Saturday brings a full batch of conference and nonconference games worth watching, including Charleston Southern at Clemson, Virginia at SMU, Georgia Tech at Virginia Tech, North Carolina at Duke, Florida State at Miami, Elon at Stanford, Louisville at Syracuse, and Wake Forest at California.
The Virginia-SMU game stands out because the Cavaliers are underdogs for the first time this season, according to SI. That status makes sense after Virginia’s recent stretch, which included a narrow escape against Syracuse and a lopsided 38-7 loss to Florida State.
The Cavaliers have looked uneven on both sides of the ball, and that kind of inconsistency is a dangerous place to be against an SMU team coming off a bye. The Mustangs should have fresh legs and extra prep time, though the flip side is whether they come out a little rusty.
If Virginia wants to have a real shot, it has to capitalize on whatever early opening SMU gives it.
North Carolina and Duke bring a different kind of intrigue. It may not carry the same basketball flavor, but this one should still deliver plenty for fans to chew on.
Duke enters as a 3.5-point favorite, while UNC rides in after its 21-17 win over Pitt. Bill Belichick’s “bend don’t break defense” has become the defining feature of the Tar Heels this season, with the team giving up 356.2 yards per game but only 19 points a game.
That sets up a straightforward battleground: Duke’s run game against North Carolina’s defense.
In Other News...
Boston College Gets A Needed Boost For A Crucial Pitt Test
Boston College heads into its ACC matchup with Pitt looking for its first conference win after back-to-back losses, and the Eagles will at least have a healthier look for the visit from the Panthers. Linebacker Bodie Kahoun and offensive lineman Michael Crounse are both back in the mix after dealing with injuries, giving the Eagles a little more stability on both sides of the ball as they try to reset in a tough spot.
Crounses return is especially notable for an offensive front that has had to juggle pieces, even if the line will still have a different look when the game starts. With Pitt coming in with just one loss after falling to UNC, Boston College could use every available hand in a game that already carries some urgency in the conference race. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Finally Has An ACC Win Fans Can Feel Good About
For a team that had been searching for something to feel good about in league play, Saturdays 27-21 win over Pittsburgh finally gave Boston College that kind of ACC result. The Eagles put together one of their sharper offensive outings of the season, with Mason McKenzie guiding the attack and a pair of receivers giving the passing game real juice against a Pittsburgh defense that had to chase the game for much of the afternoon.
Boston College also made the plays on defense when it mattered, with KP Price and Charlie Comella coming up with interceptions to swing momentum. The late takeaway from Comella ended any real doubt about the outcome and gave the Eagles a much-needed conference breakthrough they can carry into the rest of the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Boston College Needed This Ugly ACC Wake-Up Win
Boston College got an ACC wake-up call early and answered it the hard way, shaking off a rough start to beat Pitt 27-21 in a game that had little about it that felt easy. The Eagles were put on their heels immediately, but they steadied themselves with multiple touchdown drives and enough defensive resistance to keep the night from slipping away.
Mason McKenzie, Bo MacCormack and Landon Wright were part of the response as Boston College kept chipping back into the game and eventually took control, even after some frustrating moments near the goal line. The defense also delivered the kind of timely takeaways that turn an ugly conference game into a needed win, and the result gives BC a little momentum heading into whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]