Laying Out The Best Case Scenario For The 2017 Football Season

There are three schools of thought when it comes to predicting how the 2017 season is going to go for the Eagles. There are the optimists, who believe that Boston College is going in the right direction and believing in Steve Addazio. There are the pessimists, those who think all the positivity is just a bunch of smoke and mirrors and that what we will see is actually more like 2015 or some of the games in 2016. Then there are those who fall in the middle.

Today let’s analyze this season’s ceiling. What could Boston College realistically do that would be the best case scenario in 2017? No, I am not writing that they are going to go 15-0 an win the national championship as the best case scenario, because that isn’t grounded in any sort of logic, and would be a waste of all of our time. Let’s look at a scenario at what could happen if the offense improves and the defense plays well.

Defeat NIU (1-0): This is the key game in the season, go into Dekalb and win would be a tremendous boost for the Eagles momentum especially after the bowl win last season against Maryland. If BC can get an offense going as well, and score more than the 17 points they did last time they faced the Huskies, things will be looking up.

Defeat Wake Forest (2-0): Start the ACC and home schedule off right with a win in #therivalry. A peer school with a football team that is very similar to the Eagles, two nice wins set up the momentum to.......

Defeat Notre Dame (3-0): It’s too bad that this game isn’t under the lights, but still fans are going to be up for this game, and finally this could be a ND team BC could beat.

Lose to Clemson (3-1): Doesn’t matter that Deshaun Watson has graduated, and that Mike Williams is gone, there is no way I can see this offense moving the ball against that defense especially on the road.

Defeat Central Michigan (4-1): The Chipewa’s were a bowl team last season, so don’t look past them, however their defense was a mess, and BC should be able to dominate the line of scrimmage.

Lose to Virginia Tech (4-2): BC got absolutely housed by VT last year, in the best case scenario do I see that happening again? Probably, not. But I certainly don’t think they are that much better, or the Hokies that much worse. Best case scenario? It’s a ball game for four quarters.

Lose to Louisville (4-3): Is Lamar Jackson still the quarterback? Oh he is? Yeah, Boston College isn’t winning this, especially on the road.

Defeat Virginia (5-3): Bronco Mendenhall is still rebuilding the program in his image, don’t see the 2-10 Cavaliers winning this one as Boston College gets another win in conference.

Lose to Florida State (5-4): Deondre Francois just toyed with the Eagles in 2016 as the Seminoles trounced Boston College, this Seminoles team is going to be very very good especially on the defensive side of the ball. BC’s defense may make it a game for a while, but I just see the Seminoles D making enough plays to put the offense in position for scores.

Defeat NC State (6-4): The Wolfpack hype train has left the station as every national reporter with a pulse has labeled NC State as the dark horse team in the ACC. Could be, but I’m not buying it. They have a game manager as a QB, one that struggled against BC last year, and at home BC sneaks out a win.

BLOW THE DOORS OFF UCONN (7-4): If Randy Edsall is still coach at this point and not in trouble for violating anti-nepotism laws, he will see his beloved poochies punted at Fenway. Maybe Yukon will score a point or two this time, but BC should pummel them nicely.

Defeat Syracuse (8-4): BC was close to winning last year’s game, even while playing like garbage for most of it. Darius Wade has a season under his belt, BC’s offense makes the plays they didn’t last year and boom, 8-4 and four ACC wins.

Win Bowl Game (9-4): Music City Bowl against Florida, Steve Addazio gets his revenge.

Coming tomorrow....the worst case scenario (hold on to your butts)......