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Boston College - Notre Dame Matchup
Boston College is coming off of an overtime loss to Pitt where they threw for a season high 367 yards passing but only gained 56 yards on the ground.
Notre Dame rolled over Navy once again to bounce back from a 25 point loss to Purdue.
Which teams will show up on 10/23? The Notre Dame team that only rushed for 11 yards in losing to BYU, or the team that beat then top 10 Michigan?
The Boston College team had a balanced attack in beating Penn State, or the team that has put up over 550 yards per game in its last 3 games but only has a win over a 1AA UMass to show for it?
The Quarterbacks |
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Paul Peterson -- 59.6% comp,118 of 198 for 1,402 yards 237 YPG, 10 TD, 6 INT ---24th in total offense nationally |
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Brady Quinn -- 52.6% comp, 112 of 213 for 1,659 yard 237 YPG, 9 TD, 5 INT ---31th in total offense nationally |
Top Rushers |
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Andre Callender -- 291 yards, 4.2 ypc, 1 TD |
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A.J. Brooks -- 326 yards, 5.7 ypc, 3 TD |
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L.V. Whitworth -- 240 yards, 4.4 ypc, 1 TD |
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Darius Walker -- 462 yards, 3.6 ypc, 3 TD |
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Ryan Grant -- 256 yards, 4.7 ypc, 5 TD |
Top Receivers |
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Grant Adams (WR) -- 27 catches, 406 yards, 2 TD |
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Mark Palmer (FB) -- 18 catches, 144 yards, 1 TD |
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Joel Hazard (WR) -- 17 catches, 175 yards, 3 TD |
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Larry Lester (WR) -- 8 catches, 138 yards, 1 TD |
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Rhema McKnight (WR) -- 26 catches, 388 yards, 2 TD |
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Anthony Fasano (TE) -- 15 catches, 256 yards, 2 TD |
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Matt Shelton (WR) -- 13 catches, 344 yards, 4 TD |
Top Defenders |
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Mathias Kiwanuka (DE) -- 34 tackles (9 for losses), 4 sacks, 1 INT |
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Ricky Brown (LB) -- 35 tackles, 1 for a loss |
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Ray Henderson (MLB) -- 29 tackles, 2 INT |
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Will Blackmon (CB) -- 26 tackles, 2 INT |
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T.J. Stancil (FS) -- 25 tackles, 1 INT |
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Mike Goolsby (LB) -- 63 tackles (3.5 for loss), 1 sack |
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Brandon Hoyte (LB) -- 45 tackles, (5 for loss) 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles |
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Quentin Burrell (FS) -- 42 tackles |
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Derek Curry (LB) -- 39 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 INT, 2 fumble recoveries |
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Dwight Ellick (CB) -- 30 tackles, 2 INT, 2 forced fumbles |
The Kickers |
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Ryan Ohliger -- 6/9 FG, 13/14 PAT, Long 42 |
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DJ Fitzpatrick -- 7/9 FG, 21/21 PAT, Long 47 |
The Punters |
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Johnny Ayers -- 37.2 yards per kick, Long 57 |
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DJ Fitzpatrick -- 41.0 yards per kick, Long 59 |
The Kick Returners |
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Will Blackmon -- 35.3 yds per KO return (1 TD) #1 in nation in kickoff returns 10.6 yds per punt return |
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Chase Anastasio -- 20.8 yards per KO ret, Long 40 |
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Carlyle Holiday -- 8.4 yards per punt return, Long 21 |
Final Analysis By Tom Henault on loan from www.bchoop.com
The Eagle defense should keep them in the game versus the Irish, but the coaches need to focus on self scouting and get the running game back on track. The vaunted O-Line wasn't able to open holes, so BC became one-dimensional. BC's tailbacks were the healthiest they've been since the opener, but managed only 33 first half yards, 74 positive yards by the RB's for a total of 56 on the game. BC shouldn't worry about the next 1,000 yard tailback, instead they need to focus on a 100 yard rushing game as a team to open up play action. Boston College improved to 37th in the nation in passing -while plummeting twelve spots in rushing.
Grant Adams earned a 3-way tie for 2nd most receptions in a game for BC with 12 catches versus Pitt. The passing game was strong for BC, but at a cost to the running game. The real problem with BC against Pitt was penalties- 12 penalties for a costly 118 yards, inducing 2 delays of game penalties in the red zone. These are focus penalties, not the results of emotion in the midst of a play.
Special teams were special for BC against Pitt. The kicking game was solid, and Will Blackmon started the last touchdown drive with a 60-yard return. Grant Adams added to his career day with a blocked punt, which Pitt advanced-but not far enough for the first down as the Big East officials claimed, according to my Tivo. Special teams could be the key to helping BC's offense, so that they can put up points without having to go 80 yards each drive.
Notre Dame does not want the streak against BC to extend to 4 losses in a row. They realize that we are still under the old bowl alignment in the Big East- BC and Notre Dame are playing for the same bowl slots at the end of the year. Tennessee, Pitt and USC follow up BC, so they need this game to be bowl eligible. Boston College's defense will keep them in the game, but they can't afford another zero in the sack column. I predict a hard fought, intense game but the Eagles will be hard pressed to keep up with Notre Dame's offense.
Final Score: Boston College 13 Notre Dame 20
Final score prediction, updated @1:03AM EST after the Sox beat the Yankees and the faith of Boston sports
fans has been rewarded:
Boston College 23 Notre Dame 20
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Notre Dame by the Numbers
Boston College has won three years in a row against Notre Dame and
four times in the last five years.
Notre Dame has outscored their opponents 51-18 in the fourth quarter
this season.
Factoring out Navy, who only attempted 6 passes, Notre Dame is allowing 7.2 yards per catch, to BC's 5.6
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NCAA Ranking |
BC |
ND |
Offense - Run |
48 |
83 |
Offense - Pass |
37 |
34 |
Offense - Scoring |
81 |
55 |
Defense - Run |
14 |
21 |
Defense - Pass |
13 |
52 |
Defense - Scoring |
4 |
34 |
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