2014 Pinstripe Bowl Opening Line and the Basics
By Joe Micik
The 2014 Pinstripe Bowl may not be for a few weeks, but Boston College and Penn State fans await its arrival, and with it their final games of the season.
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Boston College’s head coach, Steve Addazio, already met with the media and Penn State’s James Franklin in the Bronx, and the tickets are going quickly. Fans are adjusting their plans in order to make it to New York City for December 27, the teams are preparing for practices and several days of fun pregame events, and with any luck, the Eagles will get the chance to clear out space for a trophy.
There is a long way to go before that can happen, if it happens. Until that time, there is plenty of bandwidth to burn leading up to the game.
Boston College is in a bowl for the second consecutive year and is in a rebuild of their own, while the circumstances surrounding the Penn State rebuild are a different and well-known matter. Though their motivations are separate, both want the victory to close out their seasons.
2014 Pinstripe Bowl Opening Line
Boston College -2.5
2014 Pinstripe Bowl: Us
• Head Coach Steve Addazio (2nd; 14-11)
• Last game: defeated Syracuse, 28-7
• This season: 7-5 (4-4 ACC)
• 4-1 away from Alumni Stadium this season
2014 Pinstripe Bowl: Them
• Head Coach James Franklin (1st; 6-6)
• Last game: defeated by Michigan State, 34-10
• This season: 6-6 (2-6 Big Ten)
• 3-2 away from Beaver Stadium this season
• Lost six out of last eight following a 4-0 start
2014 Pinstripe Bowl: The Game
• 24th all-time meeting between Eagles and Nittany Lions
• Nittany Lions lead series, 19-4
• Most recent meeting: 2004 (BC wins, 24-7 at Alumni Stadium)
• Boston College has won last three meetings (1992, 2003, 2004)
• First meeting between these schools in a bowl game
• Saturday, December 27, 2014, 4:30pm ET
• TV: ESPN
• Yankee Stadium, Bronx, NY
• Long-range forecast (subject to massive change): Rain/snow showers, 36
2014 Pinstripe Bowl: Initial Evaluation
Penn State has had some competitive games this season, but a 2-6 record in the Big Ten has mirrored their 2-6 record over their last eight games. The Nittany Lions have struggled hugely on offense, resembling the Spaziani Eagles with just under 20 points per game. If they have a calling card, however, it’s their defense, which is one of the best in the nation.
This has the makings of a low-scoring game in which both defenses, including the much improved Boston College unit, take control. If there is any offense that is more trustworthy to rise above, it is probably that of the Eagles, but the Penn State run defense has been exceptional.
Get ready for a grind-it-out type contest.