Pitt
vs.
Boston College
Free Pick
with Analysis
9/5/14
When we think Pitt vs. BC we think Big East football. Between 1970 and 2004 these two played 29 times in those 34 years. It’s hard to believe a decade has gone by since they played last. Now the rivalry renews only this time it’s as members of the ACC. This Game opened pick em at betonline but other books opened Pitt -4 whre it now sits Sunday night.
A quick glance at the series history and we see plenty of close Games. In fact the average score of those 29 Games was 21-20. Makes sense as these two are very similar in terms of the level of talent they are able to recruit on a regular basis. They’ll never be among college football’s elite, however they’ll field competitive teams that on any given day in any given season, will be able to compete with the elite.
Not surprisingly, these two had identical records a year ago, 7-6, with the same mixed bag of results, losing Games they should have won and playing well against some better teams. Pitt knocked off Notre Dame while Boston College gave Florida State one of it’s toughest tests of the year.
To open the 2014 season, Boston College beat UMASS 30-7 in a Game that they led just 6-0 at the half while for the Panthers it was lights out vs. Delaware in a Game that was over as soon as it started with Pitt on top 62-0. Pitt returned 8 offensive starters this year so perhaps that result not a complete surprise but lets not lose sight of who the opponent was. Pittsburgh is in better shape all around as far as returning players to the roster. BC returns just 3 on offense and 6 on defense.
BC coach Steve Addazio did a fine job with the talent he had a year ago. It shows what a team can do when they play solid, fundamental football. Pound the ball and don’t turn it over. Do that consistently well and you’ll be in a lot of Games.
These two teams are in very similar positions, playing a lot of young guys from a talent pool that history shows us is pretty even. With that in mind, we’d rely on history when handicapping this Game, with very little to go on based on last weeks results. Boston College has the home field edge, a Friday Night Prime Time National TV audience to go along with their rabid fan base. Expect this one to go the way many of the Games in this series have gone in the past. Close. Boston College +4