Welcome back to Boston College Football. The start of this season is about as different as you can expect from last year. We have a returning coach, are playing at home and taking on an FCS school in the middle of Saturday. No spotlight. No buzz. And all of that is probably good. I don’t know what to expect this year. I don’t know if Billy O’Brien knows what to expect this year, so it is best to start learning about the team in a cupcake game against Fordham. Let’s build a little confidence, avoid big injuries and ease into the season.
What’s on my mind (not totally related to this game)
All of college football remains in limbo. Worries about conference affiliations have taken a backseat to player budgets, expanded playoffs and looming government oversight. BC seems passive and that is probably purposeful. We don’t have enough juice financially to buy our way in, we don’t have enough political power to force our way in and we haven’t been good enough at football to use our brand as leverage. Plus we have a looming change in leadership and non-sports pressures that flagship state schools don’t face. In the long run, I am not as worried about the shifting landscape as I would have been 20 years ago. I think if there is a breakaway league with player employees, BC will be invited to join. Will we join, who knows? But for now, I think BC needs to keep tweaking its pay model annually just enough until we know how this all will work.
Three simple keys
1. Establish the run. While the QB battle got all the attention, the OLine turnover is probably our biggest offseason issue. In a game like this, I would love to see the Line work as a unit and push the Rams around. 2. Keep is simple on D. In my opinion, we should play vanilla as possible (few blitzes, lots of zone) and just contain Fordham. We want to keep all wrinkles and new stuff for Michigan State.
3. Competency on Special Teams. Put last year behind us.
Gambling Notes
– BC leads the all time series 5-2
– Fordham is 3-12 against FBS teams all time
– BC hasn’t lost to an FCS opponent since 1978
The current line is BC-37.5
Factoid
BC has played five fellow Jesuit schools all time in Football (Detroit Mercy, Fordham, Georgetown, Holy Cross, and Marquette).
Scoreboard Watching
Notre Dame-Miami. Both teams should be good this year. It doesn’t have the same over the top personalities and hype that the matchup had in the ‘80s but I like the idea that these two are playing and it should mean something.
BC is in trouble if…Lonergan is not sharp. I understand he hasn’t seen much live action in a while, but this is the perfect way to start your BC career. If he struggles, lots of people will be questioning his upside
I hope to see…No one get injured. The win is a foregone conclusion. Getting out unscathed is not.
What ChatGPT thinks
“Boston College is expected to crush Fordham, and barring an unlikely upset, the Eagles should dominate this opening weekend game.”
Bottom Line
BC will win this game. I think Lonergan looks good. I think James will get some time too and also look good. I think we force enough turnovers that is is never really close.
Final Score: BC 40, Fordham 7