Boston College at Syracuse: Bottom Line & Pick

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

This would be the last Boston College Eagles football pick of the season, except that it won’t be. One more game is to come in December, but as the regular season ends, who will take the finale against the Syracuse Orange?

Boston College Best-Case Scenario
Andre Williams rips the Orange defense to shreds in much the same way as virtually every other defense he has faced this year. In another 200+ yard performance, Andre all but seals a trip to New York City while the rest of his team holds up their end. The Eagles still find ways to struggle, because it is after all a road game, but this one features another strong effort by the defense. Syracuse’s lackluster offense remains as such and the Eagles win by two touchdowns to cruise to 8-4 in a game that never really feels in doubt.

Boston College Worst-Case Scenario
The game looks a lot like Maryland, except the catastrophic errors the Eagles make come back to bite them AND they are unable to come back. Andre Williams is slowed down just enough and the defense can’t back up a credible performance last week as Syracuse, though still not breaking out of the 20s, wins by about ten.

Bottom Line
The Eagles are hot, and the Orange are not. Syracuse’s offense is moribund while the Eagles have arguably the best running back in the nation taking the handoffs. In front of him is an offensive line that continues to play at a high level in run blocking. Other teams stack the box and know what’s coming, and they still can’t stop him. Syracuse has had some decent defensive performances but Saturday should not be much different for Andre Williams than any other day. Eventually, the Orange will break and the yards will flow, leading the Eagles to their fifth in a row.

The Pick
• Boston College 23, Syracuse 17