USC is a good team, but far from a great one. Several consecutive seasons of talented players leaving school early for the NFL has left the Trojans with an inexperienced team. The Trojans still have terrific individual talent, but they do not have the on-field leadership of previous seasons.
For Boston College, this has been another good season. The Eagles finished 8-4, one game behind ACC Atlantic Division winner Clemson. It seems like every season that not much is expected from BC, but they are always right up there with the best of the ACC.
Boston College is certainly capable of pulling off the upset on Saturday. Here’s what they need to do to make it happen.
1. Protect the ball
This may sound obvious, but it is crucial for the Eagles to not turn the ball over. In its four losses, BC had 16 turnovers and gave the ball away at least three times in each setback. You cannot expect to beat anyone when you turn the ball over like that. The turnover margin is especially critical for the Eagles because they do not have an explosive offense.
Unlike past seasons, USC’s offense has been average this year with freshman Matt Barkley starting at quarterback all season. He has been very safe with the ball and the offense has had difficulty putting together long drives. Because of this, the Trojans offense is very dependent on field possession.
In USC’s four losses they forced only three turnovers, and in their eight wins, they created 17 turnovers. Turnovers are critical to the success of the USC offense, and BC must do all it can to avoid them.
2. Run the ball
The Eagles do not score a lot of points (26 per game), so they must control the ball, keep the clock moving and shorten the game. They need the offensive line and sophomore running back Montel Harris to have a great game. USC has had trouble stopping the run all year, and Oregon and Stanford ran wild against the Trojans.
Also, BC is a poor passing offense and USC has a good passing defense. The Eagles cannot win this game if they get behind early and need to rely on throwing the ball to catch up.
3. Play with intensity
For BC, reaching the Emerald Bowl is a big achievement. The Eagles were picked to finish last in the ACC Atlantic Division, so 8-4 is a great overachievement. USC also enters the game with an 8-4 record, but for the Trojans, this is a disappointment. It has been eight years since USC has played in a bowl game other than the Orange or Rose. It would not be a surprise to see USC come out flat. Even if they do, BC must play with more concentration and more passion than the Trojans for all four quarters.
Boston College has a very good defensive front seven, so it should be able to force USC to throw the ball. If the Eagles play hungry, are able to run the ball and avoid turnovers, they will have a terrific shot at pulling off a big upset.
