Boston College Football: Soaring to Bowl Eligibility?

Ed Wolfstein-USA TODAY Sports

Boston College Eagles football took a step forward on Saturday afternoon, defeating the Virginia Tech Hokies for the first time in five years. More importantly, it was the Eagles’ fourth win of the season, meaning they need to win only two of their final four games in order to qualify for a postseason bowl game.

Given how that upcoming schedule looks, following their win over the Hokies, did Boston College make it likely that they will be playing a thirteenth game?

There is nothing certain for any team, especially when your team is trying to recover from a 10-loss season, but with their win on Saturday, the Eagles have taken a big leap towards the six-win plateau.

It seems quite probable that Boston College will get win number five next Saturday in Las Cruces, New Mexico, facing an Aggie team that has lost all of its official Division I games (most of which were by a substantial margin) and even had trouble putting away Abilene Christian, a team transitioning from Division II to FCS. When the opening line rolls out later on Sunday, expect to see the Eagles as a double-digit road favorite.

From there, the Eagles would only have to win one of their remaining three games, assuming they avoid one of their worst losses in modern program history in New Mexico. The most likely candidate would be the game immediately to follow against the NC State Wolfpack on Senior Day. The Wolfpack’s season has come apart at the seams as they’re now 3-5 (0-5 in the ACC), having lost four games in a row. Given also that the Eagles are 4-1 at home and have played quite well this season within the confines of Alumni Stadium, Boston College will be favored in this game as well.

Ed Wolfstein-USA TODAY Sports

Winning both of the next two games would put the Eagles over the top and ensure that they’ll be playing in a bowl for the first time in three years. If not, all is still not lost, as the final two opponents are Maryland and Syracuse on the road. The 2013 Terps are Maryland’s best edition under Randy Edsall so far, but are still not invulnerable to attack after having lost (currently) three of their last four. As for the Orange, they have had a strange up-and-down season which may end them up at 6-6 as well. Each game will present its challenges, but neither would be unwinnable if the Eagles needed those victories.

Had the Eagles not beaten Virginia Tech on Saturday, the math would have been longer but not impossible. Now that Boston College has that extra win in the bank, with a likely win next on the schedule, they have been afforded a bit of breathing room. The odds have gone from somewhere near 50-50 to favorable towards Boston College making a bowl game.

We can’t promise it will be a great bowl game in an American hotspot, but a bowl game, sure. Winning the next two games will seal it, and these kids can do it.