No interview this week because I want to preview the game I'll be attending.
No. 2 Boston College vs. No. 8 Virginia Tech
There's a lot of questions that will be answered on Thursday night, we hope.
1. Is Boston College ready for the big boys of the conference?
Much has been made at the lack of talent BC has faced, although I don't think it has been brutal. A home win over a sound Wake Forest team and a road win against Georgia Tech are worth noting.
2. Is Virginia Tech one of these said Big Boys of the conference?
Will the team that got roasted by LSU show up? Or will it be the team that baffled Clemson on a Saturday night on the road?
3. Is Matt Ryan REALLY the real deal?
If he passes this test, the answer will be yes. His game against a very tough Georgia Tech defense and the rest of his work this year has him in the mix with the top QBs in the country, but one bad game against a good defense and many will jump off the bandwagon.
There are more, but we'll stop there.
On Tuesday I talked about how it wasn't very wise for BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski to downplay the atmosphere of Thursday night's game. He clearly believes in the mental fortitude of this team. The defense has limited opponents to just 46 yards per game this year -- the country's best average. But is this a product of teams falling behind and trying to pass their way back into games? Even if that's the case, the Eagles are a Top 15 unit against the pass.
Virginia Tech has flat-out stunk in the running game this year. Actually, its offense has been miserable. One of the worst in the country. As it did in Clemson, the Hokies used that trademarked Beamerball that the media loves so much: Special teams and defense. But I think it's more than that. I've followed this team closely for six years and I've come to understand that Beamerball is Tech's way of finding ugly ways to win games. The offense has ranked in the Top 50 once since Michael Vick left town.
So, will VT use Beamerball to win tonight? That's the ultimate question. Because BC just beats VT on paper, so that's what it will take. And I've seen it happen tons of times in six years. You'd like to think so considering the wave of upsets and the curse of No. 2 this year. Why not another one?
I am hearing rain and cold which means we might see a lot of stuff near the line of scrimmage, an advantage that can go both ways. Expect a healthy dose of screens, much like the BC-Notre Dame game when Andre Callender had 10 catches for 96 yards and a score. This could be the bait that Virginia Tech ends up biting somewhere in the third quarter and the next thing you know it's a fake screen and there's a man open 40 yards down field.
I just can't see Virginia Tech moving the ball against the Eagles. Tech's leading tackler and rock on defense, Vince Hall, is out so that's an instant advantage for BC with respect to football being played within 10 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Kevin, who sits next to me at work and is an avid BC football fan, is worried that BC can't handle the pressure. But I think the answer to No. 2 above is the former.
I'm going to take BC to win. Hate to say it, but it just makes sense.
Comments (10)
Stop Hatin'.
We beat BC tonight. Book it.
Adam,
You're right....logic prevails. BC wins. Hokie fans, like Stank, are saying the same thing we heard from Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, ND, etc. What they don't understand - they are just the next step on BC's ladder to the ACC Championship.
Stank...accept the truth....it shall set you free.
Mon
Hope your wrong and VT pulls it out, but I tend to agree with you that BC is the odds on favorite to win outright and cover.
My hope is that the VT crowd creates the typical Blacksburg "wall of sound" and makes it difficult for the BC line to hear the snap count.
VT is going to need some BC errors to help them if they're going to pull off an upset.
If VT can keep it close going into the 4th quarter, they'll have a chance.
Enjoy your trip Adam!
Adam,
There is hope - remember when BC had the Big East conference for the taking a couple years ago and they lost at home to a very mediocre Syracuse team (I know - that's a bit redundant)? On paper, the game should have been a blow out. Looking at VT's offense, I don't see how BC can lose but then again, when on the verge of greatness, BC has always gravitated back towards the ever so crowded land of mediocrity.
And hey, let's face it, the BCS bowls don't want BC. They know that if they are lucky, BC will bring about a 1,000 fans with them to whatever big bowl they land in. The team just does not travel well - never has.
Desert, but I bet the BCS folks would like to have the Boston TV market in play.
Paul,
How much can you squeeze out of that market?
By Jan 1st those TV's will be smoking from all the use they got with Pat's, Red Sox, and Celt's coverage. How much more can the networks squeeze ?
(the above was partially T.I.C.)
Okay Paul,
I do agree - it's a great market - but it's not New York. I think as long as BC isn't in the championship game, the bowls would be fine with them in another BCS game. I just think the Ohito States, USCs, and Floridas carry so much more weight nationally. Bottom line is we won't have to worry about this for about 6 weeks.
Oh, and one more comment not related to the BC-VT game but I thought I would post it here.... USC goes up to Oregon this week. I think Adam had Oregon going to USC. This will be a very difficult game for the Trojans considering the way they have been under-achieving this season and they could be out of the title picture by the end of the weekend. On the other hand, Oregon would be thrust right into it.
Desert Cat - Oregon ain't winn'n that game
B&G,
Winning will always bring out the fans, regardless.
Cat,
This is NOT a big college football town. Outside of the front running ND fans, no one outside our little group cares that much, unless they went to a school with big time football. I was not a college football fan, until I went to ASU. I followed because I am a sports' fan, but my interest until I went to college was casual.