What Bettors Need to Know: Boston College at Florida State
By CHRIS MARAKOVITZ | November 14, 2008 |
Head-to-head
FSU is 4-2 all-time against BC. The road team has won three straight in the series. Last season the Noles won outright as a 6.5-point dog, ending the dream for then undefeated and No. 2 ranked BC.
Line moves
FSU opened as a 7-point favorite, with the line inching downward to 6.5 and then 6 over the course of the week.
The over/under opened at 46.5 and then dipped to 44 on Friday, most likely due at least in part to the announced suspension of the five receivers.
The stakes
Although FSU is 4-2 and tied for first in the ACC Atlantic and BC is in fourth place at 2-3, the Eagles are the ones who control their destiny in the division.
If BC wins its final three against FSU, Wake Forest, and Maryland, the Eagles would hold the tie-breaker against all three and would go to the league championship game.
FSU needs to win its final two league games and then hope for a Wake Forest loss, as Wake holds the tie-breaker due to the Deacs’ 12-3 win over the Noles.
FSU suspensions
Suspensions have been a familiar occurrence in Tallahassee this season. Prior to this week, 16 players had been suspended for at least one game for a variety of reasons.
This week we can add five WRs to the list, suspended as a result of a campus brawl. The list of players out for the BC game includes Taiwan Easterling, Bert Reed, Corey Surrency, Cameron Wade and Richard Goodman.
Easterling, Reed, and Surrency are all significant contributors, having combined for 51 catches, 722 yards, and 8 TDs.
The team will not be completely wiped out at receiver, though. Greg Carr, Rod Owens and Preston Parker are all regular contributors and will be ready to go on Saturday night.
The running game: strength vs. strength
A key to the game will be the matchup of FSU’s running game, 19th in the nation with 205 yards per game, against BC’s 12th ranked rush defense.
All “D” at BC
The Eagle defense has been the savior of the team this season. The defense is ranked in the top 14 in the nation against the run and pass as well as in scoring D, red zone D, and total D.
The Eagles pitched their third shutout of the year last week against Notre Dame.
Third down struggles
Even while winning against the Irish, BC was atrocious on third down. The Eags converted 3 of 14 opportunities last week after going 3 for 18 the week before against Clemson.
This could be a problem against an FSU defense that is holding opponents to an 18 percent conversion rate, allowing only 21 third down conversions on 116 opposing attempts.
A tale of two kickers
FSU should have an advantage in the kicking game. Place kicker Graham Gano has made 17 consecutive field goals including five from 50-plus yards. Gano is a semi-finalist for the Lou Groza award.
In contrast, BC kicker Steve Aponavicius missed two chip shots last week and is in danger of losing his job to freshman Ryan Quigley.
Blackout in Tallahassee
The Noles are the latest team to jump on the “blackout” bandwagon. The team will dress in all black uniforms and the crowd will be asked to wear black for this week’s nationally televised night game at Doak S. Campbell Stadium.
