Tyler Rouse, Boston College Pinstripe Bowl Favorites Vs. Penn State

The Boston College Eagles will be looking to end a five-game straight-up losing streak in the postseason when they take on the Penn State Nittany Lions in this year?s Pinstripe Bowl as 2.5-point favorites at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

The Eagles’ current stretch of postseason futility dates back to their 30-12 loss to Virginia Tech in the 2008 ACC Championship Game and has continued through their subsequent bowl game appearances, in which they have gone 1-4 against the spread. Overall, Boston College is a dismal 1-7 ATS in its last eight postseason matchups.

Boston College amassed a 7-5 record this season and enters Saturday?s Nittany Lions vs. Eagles Pinstripe Bowl matchup at Yankee Stadium with a strong running game that is ranked 14th in the nation, averaging 251.8 yards per game. The Eagles also own a top-20 defense that has surrendered an average of just 20.5 points per game.

However, Boston College has struggled with consistency this season, claiming just one SU win in its final three regular-season outings but going 3-1 ATS in its last four games on the college football betting lines.

The Eagles have been a better team on the road this year, posting a 4-1 SU and ATS record while going 3-4 SU and ATS at home, including a poor 1-3 SU record in their last four home dates, 2-2 ATS.

This year?s Pinstripe Bowl rekindles an old rivalry between BC and Penn State, who last met on the gridiron in 2004, with Boston College claiming SU and ATS wins in their last two meetings.

The Nittany Lions finished 6-6 this season but were a meager 2-6 SU against Big Ten conference rivals, eking out slim victories over conference lightweights Rutgers and Indiana. The squad is a dismal 2-6 SU and ATS in its last eight.

While Penn State ranks seventh in the nation in defense, allowing just 17.7 points per game, that strength is offset by a feeble offense that has scored more than 19 points against a conference opponent just once this season and has posted just one SU victory against a school with a winning record.

Penn State returns to bowl action for the first time since its 30-14 loss in the 2012 TicketCity Bowl. The Nittany Lions are 1-3 SU in their last four bowl game appearances, and just 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight such contests.

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