Brian: The Wolfpack's 4-1 start certainly hasn't gone unnoticed in the media, and a lot of writers and bloggers are jumping all over the Wolfpack bandwagon early. Dr. Saturday recently featured State in this season's first installment of ACC Championship Roulette, claiming that the Pack has as good of a shot as any Atlantic Division team to make it to Charlotte. HD seems to thinks N.C. State is 3 touchdowns better than BC. The Pack might have the offensive firepower to hang with anyone, but is there defense any good? The Eagles will face Jon Tenuta again for the third straight season (and third different team), but Tranquill has had some success against Tenuta defenses. O'Brien's team coughed up a 17 point lead to the Hokies and got punched in the mouth in the second half last week.
How good is N.C. State? They haven't really had that statement win of the season thusfar. I demand answers. Your thoughts?
Jeff: We have absolutely no idea how good N.C. State is. They failed to beat a Virginia Tech team that we're also not very sure of. They have four wins though but none are impressive. Georgia Tech might end up having an 8-4 type season. The Jackets did win the ACC last year but they've lost to a bad Kansas team and barely beat both Wake Forest and North Carolina -- both teams who have some serious issues this season. Cincinnati is another team that went to a BCS Bowl last season but is terrible this year. They have yet to beat a Division I opponent. N.C. State beat UCF by a touchdown and that might be there best win. UCF has beaten Buffalo and UAB. Are you getting the point yet?
N.C. State might not be all that much improved from last season if at all. Had they started the season playing South Carolina as they did the last two seasons, they would have lost and never entered into the Top 25 like they did this season.
N.C. State went 2-4 last season against their remaining ACC opponents. If they do the same again this season and beat East Carolina they'd finish 7-5. I think that's a reasonable estimate with a strong possibility of 8-4 but with a much weaker out of conference schedule this season than they had last year when they played Pittsburgh who finished ranked and an SEC team in South Carolina.
Big Finish
Brian: Herzlich broke some bones in his hand during drills on Tuesday, but is expected to play. Are you starting to get more concerned about Herzlich's long-term health?
Jeff: Starting to get MORE concerned? Is it possible to get MORE concerned than we've been about Herzlich's health??
Jeff: Shinskie will be the starting QB this weekend against N.C. State. Your thoughts?
Brian: If Rettig can't go, Shinskie is probably our best option left. Marscovetra has had good numbers but hasn't been able to effectively move the offense.
Brian: UMass hoops gave up a home game to play in the first Boston Tip-Off Classic opposite the Eagles. The Minutemen are 4-0 all-time at the Garden. Will BC get the W?
Jeff: Since Joe Trapani is supposedly a lot better than we ever realized, we better win.
Jeff: The men's hockey team opens their National Title defense tomorrow at Northeastern. Who ya got?
Brian: I'll always pick the Eagles. Let's say 4-2 BC.
Brian: N.C. State's defense is allowing opposing offenses to convert on just 26.6 percent of third down attempts. Over/under 26.6 percent this weekend for the Eagles?
Jeff: BC is good at going 3-and-out so I am not taking the over.
Jeff: I am pulling off the rare college football double header tomorrow -- BC-N.C. State and Navy-Wake Forest. I always predict the BC game so you tell me what I'll see in the second game of the day.
Brian: Navy-Wake will probably be a good game. Coming off the Georgia Tech game, Wake's defense will be prepared to stop the option, but I don't think the Deacons have the offensive firepower to win. Navy in a close one.
Brian: Last one. BC is now 0-8 against the spread in their last 8 games. Does that streak end tomorrow?
Jeff: Yes it does. Montel will have some success tomorrow and the defense will at least keep it close, although I am giving us a little better than a coin flip to come away with a victory.
Pick 5
Last week, I jumped out to a promising 2-1 start before Georgia Tech and Michigan let me down by failing to cover. I clearly didn't learn my lesson though because I'm doubling down with taking Georgia Tech -10. Jeff didn't have such a great week. Let's leave it at that.
Brian:
Virginia at Georgia Tech -10
Boston College +9.5 at N.C. State
Clemson +2.5 at North Carolina
Oregon -36.5 at Washington State
Florida State at Miami -6
Jeff:
Central Michigan at Virginia Tech -21.5
Illinois at Penn State -7.5
Tennessee at Georgia -10.5
USC at Stanford -10
UCLA +7.5 at California