FACTS & STATS: Site: BB&T Field (31,500) — Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Television: Raycom Sports Network. Home Record: Boston College 2-3, Wake
Forest 2-1. Away Record: Boston College 2-0, Wake Forest 0-4. Neutral Record:
Boston College 0-0, Wake Forest 0-0. Conference Record: Boston College 1-2,
Wake Forest 0-3. Series Record: Boston College leads, 11-8-2.
GAME NOTES: Coming off a near upset win over then 24th-ranked Clemson last
weekend, the Boston College Eagles travel to take on another Atlantic Coast
Conference foe the Wake Forest Demon Deacons on Saturday at BB&T Field.
Boston College held a late lead last weekend against the Tigers, but C.J.
Davidson’s go-ahead touchdown run in the fourth quarter gave Clemson a 17-13
win.
Boston College quarterback Tyler Murphy went 8-for-19 for 108 yards with two
touchdowns, and also had 13 carries for 55 yards for the Eagles, who fell to
4-3 overall and 1-2 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.
It was a defensive battle as both teams put out their lowest point totals of
the season. Clemson held the Eagles run game to just 120 yards, well below
their season average of nearly 290 yards per game.
Murphy is the offensive leader of Boston College. He averages 109 yards on the
ground per game and throws for another 124 yards on 54 percent passing. He has
also accounted for 13 of the 25 total touchdowns by the program this season.
Jon Hilliman is the other offensive threat, rushing for seven scores this
season while going for 67 yards per game on the ground. Josh Borcher leads the
team with 248 yards and three scores.
As a team, Boston College averages 27 points and 417 yards per game.
Defensively, the Eagles allow 19 points per game and 305 yards of offense. The
rush defense is strong, yielding just 102 yards, but surrendering 203 through
the air. Justin Simmons is the leader of the unit, totaling 43 tackles, one
sack and one interception this season. Josh Keyes leads the team with four
sacks.
Wake Forest enters the game having dropped three straight, including a 30-7
setback last weekend at home against Syracuse that dropped the Demon Deacons
to 2-5 overall and 0-3 in the conference.
John Wolford started at quarterback for Wake Forest, but was knocked out of
the game after taking a brutal hit in the second quarter. Tyler Cameron
replaced Wolford and completed 6-of-8 attempts for only 27 yards.
Dezmond Wortham, a redshirt freshman running back, made his first collegiate
start and rushed for a team-high 57 yards against the Orange.
It appears Wolford will be back under center for this game and the Demon
Deacons will need him if they are going to end a three-game losing streak.
Wolford has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 1,135 yards with
seven touchdowns. He has also tossed 12 picks.
E.J. Scott leads the team with 31 catches for 315 yards with four scores.
Wake’s offensive output has been horrid this season. None of the running backs
average 40 yards per game and the passing game hasn’t been spectacular. As a
team, they average just 206 yards per game and only 14.4 points per game.
The defense does what it can, yielding 357 yards and 25 points per game, but
the defense is on the field more than the offense, which does not produce
positive results.
This will be the 22nd meeting between Wake Forest and Boston College dating
back to 1941. The Demon Deacons have won two of the last three meetings
including the last game at BB&T Field, a 28-14 win on Nov. 3, 2012. The games
have also been relatively close with 12 of the last 19 games between Wake
Forest and BC having been decided by a touchdown or less.
However, don’t expect that to happen in this game. Wake Forest doesn’t have
the offense to hang with Boston College, which can expect to run all over the
Demon Deacons. Wake allows 175 yards per game on the ground and Boston College
should take advantage. Murphy is in line to have a huge game.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Boston College 35, Wake Forest 10
