September 14, 2005
BC favored over FSU? Don't buy the hype
It seems that the Boston College bandwagon is growing by the moment as national columnists and commentators jump on board in advance of Saturday's "Biggest Game in Program History" against Florida State.
Over at CBS Sportsline their experts are picking BC to win across the board, while the Boston Globe and plenty of other outlets are just as excited that Boston is getting an invite to sit at the college football table with the big boys.
Even Eagle fans are starting to get excited, tossing off the trademark New England melancholy and starting to believe that this is the year that Boston College bursts into the college football big time. Boston College already boasts two, big wins this season over BYU and Army. This week they are the chic pick of the week to defend home field as the Florida State Seminoles roll into town fresh off winning their first two games.
It is easy to see that the hype for this game is only going to grow larger as the weekend approaches, with the boys from College Football Gameday coming to town, the ACC commish throwing the pre-game coin toss and a national TV audience fixating on this battle between the Northeast's best team and on of the nation's most dominant programs. It is going to be an exciting occasion for Boston College's players and fans as they play their first ACC game at home against the Seminoles. There is a lot to look forward to about this game, but I feel that its only fair that we have a frank discussion of the reality of this contest rather than going on speaking in hyperbole about a titanic clash of wills or some other such foolishness.
Let's get down to the brass tacks, the facts of this game.
Fact: Boston College's offensive line is not as huge as Bobby Ross thought it was. He was quoted this week saying that Boston College was as big an offensive line as he'd ever seen. Admittedly, having two tackles that go 6'08" is nothing to scoff at, but across the board BC's line actually averages out to weigh less than Miami's, with the same average height. After watching Florida State dismantle Miami's All-American tackle, Eric Winston, I don't think the Noles are afraid of anyone.
Fact: Team speed will hurt the Eagles. There is no question that the Seminoles are one of the fastest teams in college, year in and year out. If this game turns into a track meet the Eagles don't have a prayer. Florida State is faster than Boston College across the board at every position, and that speed goes two deep on the depth chart. Will Blackmon's huge run against Army won't be a factor against the Seminoles because FSU's linebackers (maybe the fastest in the country) would have caught him.
Fact: Weatherford is a liability for Florida State. If Tom O'Brien has half a brain in his head, he will do his best to confuse Drew Weatherford will lots of mixed-up zone coverages and multiple personnel changes. He has to try to get inside of Weatherford's head and make the redshirt freshman make big plays to win this game. If he can get into a chess match with Weatherford and Jeff Bowden, (even better if Weatherford gets yanked in favor of Xavier Lee) BC can hang around and score some points early off of easy picks and bad reads.
Fact: It is imperative for Boston College to score soon after the opening kick, because as we learned from FSU's games against Miami and The Citadel, after the first half the Seminole defense is nearly bulletproof. Mickey Andrews makes the right adjustments and the second half the defense throws a shut out. If the Eagles offense comes out and does no damage for the first two quarters, eventually FSU will score some points somehow. They are too fast and too athletic to be held out of the endzone for long. It is just a matter of time before the Noles get on track and get on the board.
Fact: Florida State has been in games like this before. The list of big-time games this program has been in is as long as my arm. They aren't going to be intimidated by the size of BC's crowd, the veteran leaders on this team have been in games against better teams and bigger rivals in stadiums that double the capacity of Alumni Stadium. Boston College is also 2-8 against current members of the ACC (with consecutive losses to Wake Forest), now they are expected to grab the proverbial tiger by the tail and beat the the best coach in the history of college football in their inaugural league match up? Does this seem implausible to the rest of the college-football speaking world?
I say Florida State rolls into Boston with their offensive woes fixed, a revitalized running game and a defense with something to prove. I think this game (much like Virginia at home last year) shows that the Noles can get up for the big conference games. How many teams in the ACC were touted as the ones to knock FSU off of their throne? First came Georgia Tech, then Virginia, then UNC, then Clemson, then NC State, then Maryland, then Virginia again. Lately the word is that Boston College and Virginia Tech will bully the ACC's BMOC and take Bobby Bowden's crown away for just the third time since FSU joined the league. I'll believe it when I see it, but I won't see it this weekend.
Comments:
posted on September 15, 2005 10:06 AM — 68.35.231.61 — link — abuse?Mike Boone said:
^I agree almost completely with this.
posted on September 15, 2005 5:32 PM — 68.35.231.61 — link — abuse?
I'm familiar with your stuff Bill, and its refreshing to be able to have a dialogue rather than just shouting back and forth at each other. I think that BC may have an advantage against the interior of Florida State's defensive line. Teams that can run straight ahead give FSU trouble because they negate the speed advantage.
I think this is going to be a very good game, but I'm still not sure that Boston College is better than Miami.
posted on September 15, 2005 5:33 PM — 68.35.231.61 — link — abuse?
We'll see, certainly BC is large up front I'm just not convinced that they're size translates into points.
jr talley said:
posted on September 15, 2005 6:38 PM — 68.166.18.191 — link — abuse?
You are really going against the mass of thought with your article. But, I like your style and agree with you. FSU is not going to be itimidated by BC's large line. they are very fast and the defense is very good. I think they will win in the second half.
gerrys. said:
posted on September 16, 2005 11:25 AM — 24.61.158.163 — link — abuse?
Nice, logical, factual, thanks Boone. BUT, there is one factor that you are overlooking, it's the new england angst. Sensible BC fans don't really believe, they just hope.
Weaned on memories of Red Sox and Patriot success, yet with abiding respect for the too, too many Bill Buckner stories and years of frustration; tempered by thoughts of Larry Bird and Bobby Orr, and with a rich sense of local history, we hope. We remember the local heroes, the winning scores, and the just misses. But like the inevitable winter nor'easters that are now being forged somewhere in the far reaches...we wouldn't have it any other way!
We love being underdogs, where's the pressure there?
I've noticed an attitude at Fenway And at Gillette Stadium. An attitude of assumption, as if it all belonged to us. It never does. So we are temporal. We anticipate much better than most and lick our wounds with the best But there won't be any quit. Strive to excel, but understand that after proper preparation, the outcome will be what it will be.
The ACC has done very nicely without BC and there is little fear that member schools will be leaving because of BC dominance, but come visit us, meet us, laugh with us, and cry with us, but don't ever underestimate us! See Yamonster nole fan! said:
posted on September 16, 2005 11:30 AM — 69.194.48.29 — link — abuse?
Hmmm, well, where to begin? BC is all about hype & reputation (I got a degree there, so I know). FSU is gonna be pissed about all the hype this game has gotten & they're gonna teach them a lesson they won't forget! Welcome to the ACC! As for Stu, yes, rattle the offense, maybe you have something there; but, find a way to "score consistently on their defense"?! I think NOT! That Miami stood solely on the FSU defense. Come back to planet earth!
John said:
posted on September 16, 2005 1:02 PM — 192.223.226.5 — link — abuse?
FSU looks to be a tough nut for BC to crack.
In the end, though, BC will win 23-10. The
noise and the rain and the wind will give FSU
fits, the BC team will score early, and
will hold the turnover-ridden FSU running
backs and receivers. All the pressure is really
on FSU, as people don't really expect BC to
win this one.Ben Curtis said:
posted on September 16, 2005 1:51 PM — 66.202.33.250 — link — abuse?
Porter will be the difference, and is soon to enter the elite of college football.
Matt said:
posted on September 16, 2005 3:39 PM — 199.44.250.14 — link — abuse?
Good lord Boston, has winning professional titles gone to your head? Even with the miracle in 1984 you still stunk up the joint and will continue. You may get a few nice wins here and there but you are embarking on a whole new breed of football. It's called the south - where football remains supreme. You folks go ape shit over sculling for pete's sake. Rain, wind, cold, hey that's alot better than playing in 100 degree heat. FSU has played in bigger games against better foe in more hostile places than Beantown and still prevailed. But go ahead, talk the trash, build the hype - that just gets Ernie, Kamerion, Brodrick even more pissed. That my friend is one thing an offense doesn't want to see - see Miami giving up a SCHOOL RECORD 9 sacks. Not too mention all the hits, hurries and pressures Wright took. Oh, and BC's offense has nothing on Miami's.
posted on September 16, 2005 5:47 PM — 68.35.231.61 — link — abuse?
One thing no one has noted yet: the inclement weather that is predicted for tomorrow night.
If it is raining and windy as predicted, this game turns into a ground battle/defensive struggle, and might play out more like the Miami game than anyone thinks. Most predictions point to a low scoring game, (which I'm not sure of) even more so if it rains.BC Fan said:
posted on September 16, 2005 5:59 PM — 64.243.17.25 — link — abuse?
C'mon! Hop on the bandwagon! It's fun! In truth, BC is completely unpredictable, and any true BC fan would never dare talk trash in anticipation of a match-up with any other D1 school, much less FSU. But BC can be unexpectedly good, too (unexpected wins over VT, ND, Georgia, and too many Miami-near-misses to count in recent years, etc.). Here's hoping the game lives up to a fraction of the hype. I've got my tickets. Unless it rains. Then, like most BC fans, I'll probably just go to a bar.
posted on September 16, 2005 8:45 PM — link — abuse?
My oddsmaker has FSU giving 1 1/2.
posted on September 17, 2005 11:31 PM — 68.84.25.27 — link — abuse?
Hate to say I told you so guys...
Nokomis Nole Alum said:
posted on September 18, 2005 10:42 AM — 71.101.121.132 — link — abuse?
Great game, exciting for both sets of fans. Welcome to the ACC Boston College! You will make us all proud! By the way, great choice of team colors. (Now if us ACC Southerners could only figure out why you Mass. folk continue to re-elect Teddy Kennedy...but I digress) Much success to BC for the rest of the season.
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Stu said:
posted on September 15, 2005 8:14 AM — 131.247.66.52 — link — abuse?As a BC fan and as much as it pains me to say this, I at the very least have to admire the fact that you are bringing the rest of us back down to earth. But I still have to say that if we rattle their offense enough and find a way to score consistently on their defense, and there are few penalties, we have a good chance at winning.