PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Boston College will try to rebound from an unexpected home loss when it visits Rutgers for an intriguing non-conference affair Saturday afternoon. The Eagles were favored by three touchdowns over a Kansas squad that had not defeated a Power Five team on the road in 11 years, but they were dominated over the final three quarters in a 48-24 loss to the Jayhawks last Friday.
TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Boston College -8
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Kansas piled up 567 total yards - 329 on the ground - and scored the game's final 27 points to stun a Chestnut Hill crowd that had seen some solid play by its home team over the first two weeks. "You know, we have a bunch of young guys on defense right now," Boston College coach Steve Addazio told reporters this week. "We know that. It's exciting to get to develop and mold those guys and to continue to grow. Sometimes there are peaks and valleys along the way. Without a doubt, there was a valley there on Friday night." The Scarlet Knights also hit a valley in their last contest, dropping a 30-0 decision at Iowa in a Big Ten opener Sept. 7. They managed 125 total yards, turned the ball over three times and had only five first downs in the ugly setback.
ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (2-1)
Star running back AJ Dillon rumbled for 151 yards and a touchdown against Kansas and he entered the week ranked 15th among FBS players with 318 yards this year. Fellow junior Anthony Brown has completed only 53.9 percent of his passes, but he has six TD tosses and zero interceptions in 76 attempts on the season. The Eagles' defense has six interceptions - second-most in the country - with six different players getting one pick apiece through the first three games.
ABOUT RUTGERS (1-1)
Senior transfer McLane Carter erupted for 340 passing yards in his debut against Massachusetts on Aug. 30, but he was 6-of-16 for 28 yards and an interception at Iowa before leaving due to a concussion that has made his status in doubt. Sophomore Artur Sitkowski, a starter last year, was still working with the first team in practice as late as Tuesday, although coach Chris Ash told reporters earlier in the week that Carter had "improved significantly" with the team having a week off. Either quarterback can lean on sophomore running back Isaih Pacheco, who is averaging 6.6 yards per carry on 29 attempts and scored four times in the season-opening win over UMass.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Dillon last week became the sixth Eagle to gain 3,000 yards rushing and he is 724 yards shy of the program's all-time leader Andre Williams (3,739).
2. Scarlet Knights RB Raheem Blackshear leads his team with 13 catches, although his four grabs at Iowa produced a total of minus-1 yard.
3. Boston College has won the last 10 meetings, the most recent of which took place in 2004.
PREDICTION: Boston College 28, Rutgers 18