Boston College Eagles vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish: What to watch for

The Boston College Eagles look to get back in the win column but face a tall task in their rivalry game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Losing streaks have been all too common for the Boston College Eagles football program over the past few seasons.

On Saturday, players and coaches will look to put an end to one carrying a little more importance.

The Eagles and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish step foot on the hallowed football field grounds, meeting for the 24th time in the Holy War. Notre Dame currently holds a 14-9 advantage as the two teams meet for the first time since 2015, a game in which Notre Dame won 19-16.

For Boston College, they hope to not only bounce back from a 34-10 home loss to Wake Forest, but also end a five-game losing streak against Notre Dame.

The Fighting Irish, meanwhile, look to recapture their footing after a close 20-19 loss to now-ranked no. 13 Georgia.

Time, location, and where to watch

- Location: Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA
- Time: 3:30 EST
- TV: ESPN

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Boston College: Who to watch

CHESTNUT HILL, MA – SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Anthony Brown /

One of the keys to success this season for Boston College was going to be their backfield. Through two games, the results have been lackluster.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Anthony Brown (37-71, 310 yards) is going to have his growing pains so it’s up to the backfield to perform. And that starts with Jon Hilliman and A.J. Dillon.

Hilliman has only racked up 81 rushing yards, averaging a meager 2.5 yards per carry. Dillon as been slightly better with a 3.2 ypc but as a true freshman, struggles from him can be expected.

The leading rusher for the Eagles is converted wide receiver Thadd Smith, who as 11 carries for 101 yards.

Part of the struggles can be attributed to the offensive line. Four of their top six projected offensive linemen are now sidelined, including the anchor Jon Baker. Taking over at center will be true freshman Ben Petrula. Petrula will be one to keep an eye on in Saturday’s game.

On the defensive side, a key will be junior defensive end Zach Allen. Allen has 17 tackles and one sack on the season. If Allen continues to perform, it should open up more opportunities for star Harold Landry (11 tackles, 1 sack).

Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Who to watch

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Junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush will make it three straight running quarterbacks to face Boston College.

Wimbush is putting up similar numbers to Brown in the air (36-69, 395 yards) but has been the better runner. Wimbush has carried 28 times for 107 yards and two scores (and thrown for two more).

Lining up next to Wimbush in the backfield is Josh Adams. Adams averages 5.6 yards per carry while totaling 214 rushing yards. Also keep an eye on Dexter Williams, who has carried the ball six times for 124 yards, including a 66-yard scamper.

Boston College’s offense likely has their eyes focused on Notre Dame linebacker Nyles Morgan. Morgan, a senior, has 15 tackles, two TFL’s, and a sack in 2017, following a season in which he had 94 tackles. Finding and blocking Morgan will be key if the Eagles want to rev up their offense.

Prediction

In rivalry games–especially the Holy War–anything can happen. Over the years, completely mismatched Boston College teams have either pulled off upsets or kept the game close.

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Both teams are in similar rebuilding modes. The difference will be a Notre Dame team that is further along than Boston College. The Eagles will do enough on defense to keep it close for awhile, but ultimately I see Notre Dame winning 28-10.

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