Boston College vs NC State Preview & Gambling Picks
Daz regrouped with his “young” team over the bye week and the Eagles got a homecoming game to get their season back on track. Let’s get to it!
Who: The NC State Wolfpack. Dave Doeren’s squad is 4-2 this season. 4-0 at home. 0-2 on the road (hmmm). They’ve beaten East Carolina, Western Carolina Ball State and Syracuse while losing to West Virginia and FSU. Offensively they’re not super impressive but have looked solid defensively. This will be a good matchup.
Where: Beautiful Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Weather: Highs near 60 but the lows in the evening creep into the 30s. Sunny. Football weather.
When: Noon/ET, 10AM/Mountain Time.
What Channel: ACC Network Extra
Where I'll Be Watching: The Long Island Game Watch.
What's the Spread: Currently, Boston College are 3.-point home underdogs…
What else: All it takes is one injury to the starting QB and a 121-ranked defense and the Addazio “youth” and “injury” talking points are coming out hot and heavy from each presser. It’s remarkable that every BC fan could call it as soon as AB went down that those excuses would start popping up everywhere. It’s hogwash.
Tons of college football teams have had their starting QB go down. Tons of college football teams have had multiple injuries on both sides of the ball. Tons of college football teams have freshman and sophomores playing.
It’s year seven of the Addazio era. If our depth isn’t where it needs to be to sustain a few injuries and remain competitive, that’s on him.
Most Important Dude(s)
Quarterback Dennis Grosel
Who else? After filling in admirably for Anthony Brown against Louisville, Grosel becomes QB1 for the Eagles and faces a stiff test in his first game as a starter. NC State has the top run defense in the ACC and we’re going to need Grosel to make enough throws to keep the chains moving.
Let’s hope the Ohio native is up for the challenge.
3 Keys to #SOAR'N
1) Don’t Dumb Down the Playbook – Addazio said nothing changed with their playbook or strategy with Dennis in at QB. I hope he’s not blowing smoke up our you know what because a ground-and-pound offensive approach against the Pack is instant death. We need to keep them off balance and continue to find some of our playmakers in space.
2) Disciplined Defense – We won’t be able to make our players faster or better tacklers in a bye week, but we can make them know their damn assignments. If NC State scores, let’s make sure it’s because they worked their way methodically down the field and not because our defense had another mix-up.
3) Dillon Breaks One – It’s been awhile since AJ Dillon broke one against a legitimate team. It used to feel like a regular occurrence. It would do wonders if he can bust one.
Final Prediction
Boston College 26
NC State 23
I don’t think NC State is that good. I know BC isn’t either. But for some reason I think the team rallies this week and guts out a win at home.
Giblin's Gambles
This Will Be Where I Make A Few CFB Picks Each Week - Use At Your Own Risk My Season Goal: Over 57%
2019 Record: 32-27-1, 54.2%
Things got off to a bad start Friday night when Colorado forgot how offensive football worked. But then… 6-0 on Saturday! That’s what I’m talking about. Let’s have another big week and get things really cooking.
1) Friday Night Special – Ohio State -27.5 – Nothing makes me think a) Ohio State’s offense will be slowed down and b) that Northwestern can score more than 7 points. Buckeyes roll.
2) Friday Night Special 2.0 Pitt-Syracuse UNDER 52 – This game has like 24-17 written all over it. Cuse is having issues at QB. Pitt likes to run the ball. Under.
3) Navy -14.5 vs USF – Navy is rolling and USF stinks. I don’t care that they beat BYU last week. Middies big.
4) Southern Miss/Louisiana Tech OVER 57.5 – Both these teams average over 30+ points a game and have suspect defenses. Stanford Steve is on it too. So let’s ride it.
5) Texas -21 vs Kansas – Kansas is terrible. Texas might show some sloppiness early because they put everything into the OU game last week but they’ll be fine.
6) Air Force -3 at Hawaii – I trust the Falcons to be able to win in Honolulu.
7) OU -20.5 1H vs West Virginia – The Sooners will have 30+ in the first half against West Virginia. Boomer Sooner.
