SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Boston College was obliterated by Clemson its last time out, but Syracuse has plenty of issues of its own. The Eagles visit the Orange on Saturday in an ACC affair between two teams seeking a win.
TV: Noon ET, ACC Network. LINE: Syracuse -3
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In its last game, BC absorbed a 59-7 loss to mighty Clemson, getting outgained 674-177 in a heavily lopsided decision. "They played like the No. 1 team in the country," Eagles coach Steve Addazio said. "They played like the team that went after Alabama in the national championship. That's what happened out there." Syracuse, meanwhile, has dropped three games in a row and enters this weekend as the only winless team in ACC play at a disappointing 0-4. “I think that this adversity that they’re going through is going to make them better,” Orange coach Dino Babers said. "We need to work our way through it and persevere. And I believe we will by staying together and not giving any fault to anyone else, and seeing if we can find a way to win one football game."
ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (4-4, 2-3 ACC)
The Eagles have given up 48, 27, 41 and 59 points in their four defeats and yielded 302 rushing yards against Clemson, not to mention that they allowed 16-of-19 passing and three touchdowns to Tigers star Trevor Lawrence. Meanwhile, Dennis Grosel and Matt Valecce combined to complete only six passes for BC with A.J. Dillon (19 carries, 76 yards, TD) accounting for most of the team’s bright spots offensively. Max Richardson has 79 tackles - 18 more than anyone else on the team - and also paces the squad with 2.5 sacks.
ABOUT SYRACUSE (3-5, 0-4)
Tommy DeVito has thrown only one touchdown pass during the three-game slide, and in his last two games, the sophomore has thrown 56 times for a total of 252 yards. Moe Neal found the end zone for the first time in four games in last weekend’s 35-17 setback to Florida State, although he still averaged less than four yards per carry for the fourth straight outing. By contrast, Abdul Adams has rushed for 4.8 yards per attempt over the last four games and had a productive stat line (11 carries, 56 yards, TD) versus Florida State.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Orange topped the Eagles 42-21 in their regular-season finale last year.
2. Syracuse is 0-5 when scoring 20 points or fewer and 3-0 when scoring more than that.
3. Orange WR Trishton Jackson has no touchdown catches in the last two games after scoring four TDs in his previous three outings.
PREDICTION: Syracuse 27, Boston College 22