FACTS & STATS: Site: Alumni Stadium (44,500) — Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Television: ACC Network. Home Record: Syracuse 1-6, Boston College 2-4. Away
Record: Syracuse 2-2, Boston College 4-1. Neutral Record: Syracuse 0-0, Boston
College 0-0. Conference Record: Syracuse 1-6, Boston College 3-4. Series
Record: Syracuse leads, 29-18.
GAME NOTES: The Boston College Eagles look to rebound from last weekend’s
last-second defeat when they host the Syracuse Orange on Saturday in Atlantic
Coast Conference action.
Boston College lost to top-ranked Florida State, 20-17, after Roberto Aguayo
atoned for an earlier miss, hitting a 26-yard attempt with three seconds left
to keep top-ranked team’s undefeated season alive at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The Eagles stuck with their run-first philosophy throughout and finished with
240 yards on the ground, but after a questionable trick-play pass attempt
failed late in regulation senior kicker Alex Howell missed a 42-yard field
goal with 4:37 left that would have given Boston College the lead. Jon
Hilliman led BC with 73 yards on 14 attempts, while Shakim Phillips posted a
TD reception in defeat.
Tyler Murphy ended up with 73 yards and a touchdown each through the air and
on the ground for the Eagles, who fell to 6-5 overall and 3-4 in the ACC.
The win would have been a definer for head coach Steve Addazio’s squad.
Instead, Boston College now has to keep its focus and rebound against a lesser
opponent in Syracuse to end its regular-season above .500 overall and get to
.500 within the ACC.
The Eagles are averaging 25.7 points and 391.3 yards per game this season.
Boston College, behind a veteran offensive line, has had the most success
running the ball. The Eagle average 261.8 yards on the ground, which is 11th
in the nation and second in the ACC behind Georgia Tech.
Murphy is a dual threat for the Eagles, averaging a team best 96.3 yards per
game on the ground and completing 55.2 percent of his passes for 1,366 yards
with 10 TDs and 10 picks. His 20 touchdowns account for over half of the
team’s offensive scores (37).
Hilliman also benefits from the o-line, averaging 63 yards per game and
scoring a total of 11 times this season.
The Orange have had little success this season, most recently falling to Pitt
30-7 on Saturday.
Freshman wide receiver Steve Ishmael recorded a career high in receiving yards
with 97 on six catches and Ron Thompson scored his first career touchdown for
Syracuse, which fell to 3-8 overall and 1-6 in the ACC.
Freshman quarterback AJ Long went 10-for-19 for 149 yards and an interception,
as Syracuse has dropped four in a row.
The Orange offense is averaging just 18 points and 347.5 points per game this
season. In five games this season, Long is completing 55.8 percent of his
passes for 876 yards with four touchdowns and seven picks.
The interesting match-up will be if Syracuse’s defense can hold the Boston
College rushing game in check. The Orange allow an average of 139 yards on the
ground per game, which most likely means bad things for Syracuse.
Syracuse has owned the all-time series against Boston College, going 29-18
dating back to its time in the Big East. Last year, in Syracuse’s first season
in the ACC, the Orange came away with a 34-31 decision.
However, this is a different year and Boston College should dominate the
Orange this weekend. The Eagles’ run game is too much for Syracuse and Boston
College should wear down the Orange and come away with a relatively easy
victory.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Boston College 35, Syracuse 7
