Boston College vs. Clemson: Eagles Open As A 9-Point Home Dog

Boston College looks to spring its second upset victory over a top 25 opponent this weekend as the program hosts the #22/25 Clemson Tigers. BC certainly has its work cut out for itself in this one as the Wynn Las Vegas has installed the Eagles as a 9-point home underdog against the Tigers.

The Tigers will turn to fifth-year senior Cole Stout under center, after Clemson's freshman phenom Deshaun Watson left last weekend's game against Louisville with a broken finger in his throwing hand. Watson is expected to miss five weeks. Stout threw for 162 yards and an interception on 20-of-33 passing in the Tigers' 23-17 victory over the Cardinals.

Even though Clemson is playing on the road and without its starting quarterback this weekend, Vegas seems to be throwing the 4-2 Eagles a bit of respect with the early single-digit point spread.

Boston College is 4-2 against the spread this year with wins over Massachusetts (BC -17), USC (BC +17), Maine (-22.5) and N.C. State (+2.5). BC's two losses ATS were to Pittsburgh (BC +5) and Colorado State (-6).

Similarly, Clemson is also 4-2 on the year ATS but is coming off a game in which it failed to cover the point spread against Louisville (CU -8.5). The Tigers have covered in games against South Carolina State (-34), Florida State (+9.5), North Carolina (-14) and N.C. State (-14).

Clemson has won five of six in the ACC series after the Eagles jumped on the Tigers with victories in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Boston College is 5-4 ATS against Clemson in the ACC series, covering last year's 24-point spread after falling to the Tigers, 24-14, in Death Valley.

2013: Clemson 24, Boston College 14 (BC +24)
2012: Clemson 45, Boston College 31 (CU -7)
2011: Clemson 36, Boston College 14 (CU -21)
2010: Boston College 16, Clemson 10 (BC +7)
2009: Clemson 25, Boston College 7 (CU -9)
2008: Clemson 27, Boston College 21 (CU +2.5)
2007: Boston College 20, Clemson 17 (BC +9)
2006: Boston College 34, Clemson 33 (BC +1)
2005: Boston College 16, Clemson 13 (BC +3)

Other week 8 lines of note:

-- Virginia Tech is a 2-point road favorite at Pittsburgh on Thursday night
-- Syracuse (2-4) opens as a 4-point road favorite at Wake Forest (2-4)
-- Louisville is a 15-point home favorite as the Cardinals host N.C. State
-- In a battle of unbeatens, Florida State opens as a 12.5-point home favorite vs. Notre Dame.