Boston College will return to AT&T Park on Sunday night, the site of last year’s Emerald Bowl loss to the USC Trojans. This year, though, they’ll be taking on No. 15 Nevada in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl.
BC's current five-game winning streak has helped the Eagles reach a bowl game for the 12th consecutive year. However, before the recent five-game streak, they lost five in a row.
Nevada enters with a six-game win streak of their own, including a surprising upset over previously No. 4 Boise State. The dramatic 34-31 overtime win crushed Boise State’s dreams of a national title.
While Nevada was able to beat a top five team, Boston College failed to beat its ranked opponents and finished only 4-4 in ACC play.
Although playing in a weaker conference, Nevada averaged 42.6 points scored, which ranks fourth in the country, scoring 22.1 points allowed per game. On the other hand, BC averaged only 18.9 points scored, which ranked 107th in the nation, while allowing 19.5 points per game.
On top of that, Nevada’s 535.6 yards per game ranks third in the country, led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua. The two combined for over 2,700 yards rushing and 39 rushing touchdowns.
If there’s any team in the league that can limit their dominant run game, Boston College can with their top-ranked run defense and linebacker core — All-American Luke Kuechly and former ACC Defensive Player of the Year Mark Herzlich.
Kuechly led the nation with 171 tackles, while Herzlich contributed 60 tackles and four interceptions.
Since Boston College has struggled offensively throughout the year and have scored more than 30 points only once — 38 points on Sept. 4 vs. Weber State — they will have to limit Nevada’s offense and win in a lower scoring game.
During the five-game win streak, BC held opposing offenses to fewer than 20 points in each game and under 12 points per game. In addition, during that stretch, BC held opposing offenses to under 75 rushing yards per game.
It will be an intriguing matchup between Nevada’s rushing attack and Boston College’s rushing defense. BC may lack a high powered offense, but their defense must step it up and be lights out in order for the team to upset No. 15 Nevada.
