New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Boston College vs. Penn State: Final Thoughts And Predictions

We are here. Boston College's second straight bowl game is right around the bend, so it's now our turn to analyze the matchup with Penn State. It's a battle of two northeast powerhouses coming back from haymakers that would have taken lesser programs out. In one corner is Boston College, just two years removed from the embarrassing tenure of Frank Spaziani, who nearly torpedoed Eagles football. In the other is Penn State, who showed grit and determination as they lifted themselves out of the ashes of the Joe Paterno/Jerry Sandusky scandal that stripped them of scholarships, wins and their reputation. Now the question remains, who will lift the trophy in the Bronx?

Big Questions

Penn State has the best rushing defense in the country—is this a realistic statistic or is it a reflection of the poor rushing offenses that they have faced? Penn State will be suiting up 41 scholarship athletes; will that be enough to battle Boston College? Can Tyler Murphy rediscover his running lanes against the Nittany Lions in front of a home crowd? Which running back will have the most success against this stout defense? Can Boston College open up some passes with one of their receivers? Can they prevent the dropsies? Will the offensive line be able to hold against PSU? Penn State's offensive line has been putrid this season; can BC's line cause problems and get pressure on Christian Hackenberg? Will Akeel Lynch, the former BC commit, cause problems? CAN WE PLEASE KICK ALL OF OUR EXTRA POINTS?

Lingering Questions

Yankee Stadium is completely sold out; how many will be BC fans? The weather is predicted to be warm—will that help Penn State or BC? Speaking of factors, will the layoff help Penn State or BC? If BC wins, can we have Duck Boats please? (This is a joke, please don't tell me in the comments that it will never happen, god why do I have to spell out my jokes on here?) Can Steve Addazio bench press a Duck Boat? How are UMass/UConn fans feeling about this game?

What To Drink For $10 A Pop At Yankee Stadium:

Well first off this will be the second game for the Eagles will be playing at a stadium that sells beer, but unlike Gillette, the options are pretty limited. According to reports the beers include:

Budweiser, Bud Light, Bud Light Platinum, Bud Lime-A-Rita, Bud Mango-Rita, Batch 19, Becks, Blue Moon, Blue Moon Seasonal, Coors Light, Corona Light, Dos Equis, Goose Island, Goose Island 312, Goose Island Honkers, Guinness, Guinness Black Lager, Heineken, Heineken Light, Hoegaarden, Kirin Ichiban, Leinenkugel, Miller Lite, Michelob Ultra, Magic Hat #9, Modelo, Newcastle, O'Doul's, Redds Apple Ale, Red Bridge, Presidente, Shock Top, Smithwick's, Shock Top Apple, Shock Top Lemonade, Stella Artois and Yuengling.*

That looks like some solid beers (Goose Island's are a standard for me), a beer you wouldn't want to drink much of at a football game (Smithwick/Guinness) and a whole bunch of awful. So clearly unless you want to drink Goose Island you are going to want to drink something else before you head into the game. There are some bars around Yankee Stadium if you need to do some tailgating, and I'm sure one of them will carry Brooklyn Brewery selections. As we are in the winter months you might want to try out their Winter Ale, or you could go for their Brooklyn Lager. 

Fireside Chat with Baldwin Jr.

Baldwin Jr: CAW CAW! IT COMES WITH GREATNESS SAD AND JOYS THAT I AM HERES WITH THE FINAL SITTING IN FIRE CHAT WITH BAWDWIN JUNYOR! ITS SAD BECUZ ITS THE LASTEST GAME, BUT THE JOY IS THAT I AM HERE WITH MY NEW BESTEST FRIEND AND THE CLUTCHIEST BASEDBALL PLAYER, THE CAPTION, DEREK'S JETER! HEWWWOO MR. JETER!

Derek Jeter: Hi Baldwin, it's an absolute pleasure to sit down with you.

Baldwin Jr: WOW, I CANTS BELIEVES I AM SITTING HERE WITH NUMBER TWO! CAN I HAS YOUR AUTOGRAPH?

Jeter: Of course. But don't you want to talk about the Pinstripe Bowl?

Baldwin Jr: THE WUT?

Jeter: The Pinstripe Bowl. You know...the big game between your Boston College Eagles, and the Penn State Nittany Lions.

Baldwin Jr: OH YEAH. UH, CAW, UM, HOW DOES IT FEELS TO BE SO AWESOME?

Jeter: Well, it's been a fantastic career, Baldwin. Would you like to know my thoughts on Steve Addazio?

Baldwin Jr: WOULD I! OH YOU ARES SOOOOOO DREAMY MISTER JETER.

Jeter: Well, Addazio is impressive, I've had some fiery coaches in my career....

Baldwin Jr: YOU WON FIVE WORLD NATIONAL SERIES.

Jeter: I did.

Baldwin Jr: THAT IS SOOOOOOO AWESOME.

Jeter: It was, now Baldwin, I think BC has the upper hand here...

Baldwin Jr: DID YOU REALLY DATE MINKA KELLY?

Jeter: I did. But what I was saying was—

Baldwin Jr: WOWWW!

Jeter: I think I need a new agent...

Baldwin Jr: CAW CAW!

Gametime Song Of The Week

If you don't like my song choice, here is a YouTube Playlist of Billy Joel

Notorious B.I.G.- 10 Crack Commandments: I know this song is going to get a lot of flak from some of our older folks, but the basis of the story is pretty awesome. Ever want to get into slangin' crack? Ever want to know how to set up a successful business that won't involve you getting killed by a junkie or in jail? Well Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace has got a ten point plan to get you there. There has been a lot of arguments on who was a better MC, 2pac or Notorious BIG. Even though he has a smaller body of work to reflect on, I think Biggie was more diverse and interesting to listen to. Most of the Life After Death album, released just months after his murder, is awesome. And if there is one rapper that suburban white kids listen to (who's not Drake or Eminem), it's Biggie.

Or if you don't want to sell Crack using Biggie's plan, may I offer an alternative?

BCI Staff Predictions and GPS

Here we go, it's looking like a lot like Maroon and Gold in our predictions...

Brian - In New York, partying with the boys. 27-12 Boston College. It's our time.

Jeff -  Coming out of hiding is Jeff, who will also be at the game. 24-10 Boston College.

A.J - Really shouldn't complain because he is getting a trip to Colorado, but will be bummed that he can't be in the Bronx. Will be watching this from a ski side bar, screaming like hell to the horror of the locals and vacationers. 13-10 Boston College.

Grant - Also going to be in New York City. I cannot possibly pick against BC in this game. This is our game. 26-13 Boston College.

Joe - Will be at the game, enjoying the sights and sounds of NYC. 34-24 Boston College.

Dan - Like AJ, he will not be at the game. Sigh. "Big players make big plays in big games." -Santana Moss

If you don't know what that quote comes from, watch "The U, Pt. 2." Moss, while at Miami, made the comment when the U finally got over the Florida State hump back in the early 2000s. It illustrated how they wanted to win so badly. It means the guy who wants to win will do whatever it takes to win. Big players, in big games, will stop at nothing to get that W. In that reason, I think of Tyler Murphy running for daylight against USC. In a big game, a guy who wants the ball will take the ball and do what he has to do.

Big players, in big games, make big plays. 31-24 Boston College

The BC Interruption Prediction Game

We have a champion. No, the football guys Dan and AJ (even after almost his second) did not win, and Brian the blogdad didn't win either. Based on the predictions for this game there is no way Grant can lose. So all bow before your new overlord, Grant Salzano!

	UMAS	PITT	USC	UMO	CSU	NCS	CLE	WFU	VPI	LOU	FSU	SYR	Total
Grant	11	0	0	8	0	12	8	6	0	12	4	9	70
AJ	8	0	0	12	0	0	0	8	10	0	10	12	60
Jeff	2	0	0	10	0	10	12	4	8	0	8	4	58
Brian	11	0	0	4	0	6	10	12	0	0	6	6	55
NG	6	12	0	2	0	0	0	10	0	0	12	2	44
Joe	4	0	0	6	0	8	6	2	12	0	0	0	38

BC Interruption's Picture Page

Anyone going to the game? What are you doing in New York for fun? Ready for the more exciting bowl games in recent memory? Or watching it somewhere else for a BC meetup at a bar? Make sure to put up your photos on Facebook, or if you want you can email them directly to me at bchysteria at gmail dot com. Please make sure you understand that by emailing them to us you are giving us the right to use your pictures on our posts!

Superfan Thermometer

Can Boston College get by Penn State's defense for the win? Or will they struggle? What will the outcome be? Leave your predictions in the comments. Go Eagles!

Get Social. Follow BC Interruption on Twitter And Facebook

Follow @bcinterruption
Follow @BCHysteria
Follow @BCIntJeff
Follow @DanRubin12
Follow @joegrav
Follow @Salzano14