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The next release of EA Sports' popular NCAA Football series is right around the corner. Tradition Sports Online has a sneak peek into this year's team ratings, and it's not good news for Superfans. BC fans looking to build an Online Dynasty where Chase Rettig wins back-to-back Heisman Trophies, Montel Harris wins the Doak Walker and the Eagles rattle off three straight BCS National Championship Game victories may find it tough sledding this year.
Boston College is ranked 67th overall in this year's version of the game, somewhere between the Hoke-less San Diego State Aztecs (at 65) and Fresno State Bulldogs (68). Great.
The Eagles received a B+ rating overall, B on offense, B+ on defense (huh?), B- on special teams (can't really complain there), and a 3 rating in the Prestige category (on a 6-point scale). Sure, EA has gotta sell video games, but I don't think the programmers have fully factored in the Chase Rettig-Kevin Rogers dynamic duo yet.
Here's a look at the rest of the ACC and BC's 2011 opponents:
| Ranking | Team | Rating | Offense | Defense | Sp. Teams | Prestige |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Northwestern Wildcats | B+ | B+ | B | C+ | 3 |
| 30 | @ Central Florida Knights | B+ | B+ | B | C+ | 3 |
| 92 | Duke Blue Devils | B- | B+ | C+ | B- | 2 |
| NR | UMass Minutemen | NR | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| 84 | Wake Forest Demon Deacons | C+ | C+ | C+ | C | 2 |
| 32 | @ Clemson Tigers | B+ | B+ | B+ | B | 4 |
| 17 | @ Virginia Tech Hokies | A- | B+ | B+ | B- | 5 |
| 40 | @ Maryland Terrapins | B+ | B+ | B | B | 3 |
| 10 | Florida St. Seminoles | A | A | B+ | A- | 5 |
| 24 | N.C. State Wolfpack | B+ | B+ | B | B- | 3 |
| 21 | @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish | B+ | B+ | B | B | 5 |
| 34 | @ Miami Hurricanes | A | A- | A- | B+ | 5 |
| 44 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | B | B | B | C | 4 |
| 53 | North Carolina Tar Heels | B+ | B+ | B+ | B+ | 4 |
| 57 | Virginia Cavaliers | B | B- | B | C | 3 |
Thoughts / comments on the ratings? I know some of you have a beef with these ratings, so let's hear 'em. I'll go first.
UCF same prestige ranking as BC, a school that's been playing I-A ball since 1996??
The Knights defense gets a B despite returning only four starters on that side of the ball?
Beamer Ball / Hokies special teams a B-?
N.C. State a top 25 team? Did they program out Russell Wilson yet?