Boston College Eagles vs UMass Minutemen: What to watch for in in-state battle
The Boston College Eagles kickoff their 2018 football season in style on September 1, playing host to their neighbors, the UMass Minutemen.
Months of preparation — coinciding with the AJ Dillon hype train — go into effect on Saturday for the Boston College Eagles.
Across from the Eagles on the field will be their in-state rivals, the Minutemen of UMass.
Considering Boston College has won nine straight in this series, and 21 of 27 overall, the word ‘rivalry’ might be a strong one. Still, when two teams battle for supremacy of their region, anything goes.
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The teams last met in 2016, when Boston College won 26-7. UMass last picked up a victory over the Eagles in 1978.
A physical affair — with a lot of local players bringing their hometown pride to the game — is likely to play out on Saturday. UMass already has one game under their belts, a 63-15 victory over Duquesne from the FCS.
First-game jitters might show early on for Boston College, but overall, they have more experience and depth than UMass. With 17 starters coming back, the Eagles should maintain the winning streak.
A win for Boston College would be business as usual (plus bragging rights) in a season they are hoping to crack the upper echelon of the ACC.
Time, location and where to watch
- Location: Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, MA
- Time: 1:00 pm EST
- TV: ACC Network Extra
Boston College Eagles: Who to watch
Dillon is going to be at the top of this list as long as he’s healthy and performing.
Already a preseason All-American, if Dillon performs like he did last season he will be in consideration for a Heisman. Not bad for a sophomore who spent half of the season splitting carries with other backs.
Boston College’s outstanding offensive line should help pave the way for Dillon to have a huge day. UMass ranked near the bottom of rush defense in 2017 and allowed 130 yards against Duquesne last week.
Another player to keep an eye towards on offense will be quarterback Anthony Brown. Brown will be seeing his first game action since he injured his knee late last season, ending his 2017 campaign. Brown showed a few bright starts and was getting better before the injury, exactly what you want to see from a young quarterback. Hopefully the growth will continue as a RS-sophomore.
On defense, each unit will boast a high-caliber player. Zach Allen was a tackling machine on the defensive line last season and Connor Strachan anchors the linebackers.
Lukas Denis and Will Harris represent a stacked secondary and present one of the more interesting matchups as UMass has a talented quarterback.
UMass Minutemen
The quarterback, running back, and top receiver for UMass are all seniors, giving the Minutemen a lot of game minutes at those positions.
Quarterback Andrew Ford saw limited action in last week’s victory, going 13-19 for 186 yards. In 2017, Ford threw for nearly 3,000 yards with 22 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
His top target is a player who had over 1,000 receiving yards last season. Senior Andy Isabella started off 2018 with five catches for 131 yards and a touchdown.
At running back, Marquis Young will be starting for the fourth-straight year. Young had 90 yards and a touchdown last week while Bilal Ally carried nine times for 109 yards and a score.
UMass had 572 total yards against Duquesne, 282 of which came on the ground.
The Minutemen might be one team who can come close to matching Boston College with secondary experience. This senior-laden unit had 13 picks last season and held Duquesne to 123 passing yards.
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Prediction
The battle for Massachusetts will likely be a slow start for Boston College. Initial jitters will give way to a powerful running game and big day from Dillon. The defense will shut down Ford and company for a 31-10 Boston College victory.