Dabo Swinney says Boston College could easily be a 4-1 football team, instead of 1-4. Eagles’ head coach Bill O’Brien says Clemson could easily be undefeated heading into Saturday’s matchup.
Who is telling the truth?
Perhaps, the truth lies somewhere in between.
“Their record is 1-4, but this far from a 1-4 football team,” Swinney said.
Though the Eagles have some good parts in quarterback Dylan Lonergan, tight end Jeremiah Franklin and wide receiver Lewis Bond, there are other parts that are struggling, especially on defense were 17 players are either ruled out or are questionable for Saturday.
BC will be without starting linebacker Daveon Crouch, he has already been ruled out. Backup safety Marcelous Townsend has also been ruled out, while starters Kwan Williams (DT), Max Tucker (CB), Quintayvious Hutchins (DL) and Cameron Martinez (NB) are all questionable. Backup corner Amari Jenkins and backup nickel back T.J. Green are also listed as questionable.
The Eagles are allowing 31.6 points per game, which ranks last in the ACC.
Clemson (2-3, 1-2 ACC) at Boston College (1-4, 0-3 ACC)
- Kickoff: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
- Location: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
- TV: ACCN
- Spread: Clemson 14.5
- Total: 54.5 points
- Series: Clemson leads the series 21-9-2
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Clemson is looking for a second straight to win build some confidence before hitting a stretch where they play ACC leaders SMU and Duke and then No. 25 Florida State in consecutive games. BC is looking for its first conference win of the season.
KEY MATCHUP
The Eagles rank 10th nationally, averaging 313.4 yards per game. Quarterback Dylan Lonergan is completing 67.4 percent of his throws for 255.4 yards per game. He has nine touchdowns to three interceptions. Because they do not run the ball well (85.0 ypg), the Eagles will come out throwing. Like everyone else Clemson has played, BC will rely on short passes to try and get Clemson sleeping before going over the top. Like they did against UNC, the defensive front needs to control the line of scrimmage and get its hands up to take away passing lanes and bat passes down. The tackling was better at UNC, which will need to continue, as Lewis Bond is a shifty receiver in space and Jeremiah Franklin is one of the top tight ends in the league.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Adam Randall is attempting to become the first Clemson running back to catch a touchdown in three straight games since Clemson moved away from the single wing offense in 1953. Randall currently has 17 receptions for 154 yards and three TDs.
BC’s Lewis Bond ranks sixth in the country in receptions per game, averaging 7.6 catches a game through five games. Bond needs 38 catches to break Zay Flowers’ all-time reception record. Bond averages 73.2 receiving yards per game through five games, which ranks seventh in the ACC.
THIS AND THAT
Clemson enters the game against Boston College (1-4) having not lost to a team with a losing record at the time of kickoff since losing to 2-5 Boston College in 2010. Clemson has won 35 straight games against teams with losing records, the nation’s third-longest active streak according to Stats Perform (Alabama, 38; Ohio State, 36).
FINAL ANALYSIS
Boston College is allowing an ACC worse 31.6 points per game. Part of the reason for this is because 17 defensive players are either ruled out or questionable for Saturday’s game. Of those 17, eight are defensive backs. Though the Eagles offense will be formidable for the Clemson defense, the Tigers should be able to move the ball with relative ease for a second straight game and put up a lot of points.
Prediction
Clemson 31, Boston College 16