Eric Thomas (Recruiting Reporter)
At time of writing, Notre Dame is a 28.5-point favorite over their rivals, the Eagles of Boston College, and it is not hard to understand why.
Both the Boston College offensive and defensive units rank in the 100s nationally, the offense averaging 21.1 points per game (No. 100) and the defense allowing 37.9 points per game (No. 126), despite playing a middle-of-the-pack schedule (No. 68 in strength of schedule), per TeamRankings.
Notre Dame, by comparison, ranks No. 6 in offensive points per game (39.1 points per game) and No. 28 defensively in the same metric (21.3 points per game), against the No. 2 strength of schedule nationally, numbers from TeamRankings again.
The Eagles run the ball at one of the lowest rates offensively, just 43.03 percent of the time. The high volume of passing comes at a cost to the offensive operation, though: Boston College averages just 6.5 yards per pass (No. 100), tosses an interception on 2.7 percent of dropbacks (No. 83), and allows a sack on 6.83 percent of dropbacks (No. 92).
For an ascending Notre Dame defense, there will be a ripe opportunity to steal possessions.
The Boston College defense is outside the Top 100 in opposing yards per rush (5.1, No. 116), opposing rush yards per game (184.3, No. 104), opposing yards per pass (8.3, No. 114), and opposing pass yards per game (261.3, No. 111). The Eagles’ defense allows .550 points per play, good for No. 129 nationally.
Notre Dame is Top 30 nationally in each of those respective statistical areas. The Fighting Irish should be able to pick their poison on offense, regardless of the down-and-distance.
Key Predictions
– CJ Carr throws three or more touchdowns, including the first of the year for Eli Raridon.
– Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price combine for over 200 rushing yards and two scores.
– Over 1.5 sacks for Boubacar Traore in his homecoming appearance
– Three or more total turnovers in the game, and Notre Dame wins the turnover battle
Notre Dame 49, Boston College 14