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Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Boston College Eagles Football Betting Preview

Last week, #2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish knocked off Clemson, but can they follow it up with a win over the Boston College Eagles in a rivalry game? On the road, the Fighting Irish are favored by 13.5 points, with the over/under set at 49.5 points.

As mentioned, Notre Dame took a massive step toward the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff last week. Admittedly, Clemson wasn’t at full strength without Trevor Lawrence. But it’s hard to argue that the Irish didn’t deserve to win the game. Of course, they still have four games left that could trip them up before reaching the ACC title game.

As for Boston College, the Eagles have had an up and down season but are just one win away from securing a winning season. Jeff Hafley has already put his stamp on the program in his first season, even if the Eagles are still missing a marquee win. Of course, they’ll have a chance to get that against Notre Dame, a rival they haven’t beaten since 2008.

Hello, Old Friend

Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec should be well acquainted with the Irish defense he’ll face on Saturday, as he spent the last two seasons playing for Notre Dame. Jurkovec transferred to BC this year and has put together a strong sophomore campaign. While his accuracy comes and goes at times, Jurkovec has thrown 15 touchdown passes and just four interceptions this year. He’s given the Eagles much more of an aerial threat than Boston College has had in recent years.

More importantly, Jurkovec knows that a difficult challenge awaits him. Prior to last week’s game against Clemson, the Notre Dame defense had allowed just 23 total points in its three previous games. It’s also worth noting that the Irish forced three turnovers last week against Clemson and held Heisman contender Travis Etienne to 28 yards on 18 carries. Not many defenses can claim to have done that.
Wild Irish

The win over Clemson is strong evidence that the Notre Dame offense has come a long way since the start of the season. Kyren Williams seems to prove every week that he’s a productive and durable running back. He gained 140 yards on 23 carries with three touchdowns against a strong Clemson defense. Perhaps more importantly, quarterback Ian Book finally has some downfield threats.

Senior receiver Javon McKinley has gone over 90 yards receiving in three of his last five games. Fellow senior Avery Davis is also coming on strong. Book didn’t have those playmakers available to him early in the year, and with the Notre Dame passing attack improving by leaps and bounds, the Irish have one of the most balanced offenses in the country.

In fairness, the BC defense has been solid for most of the season. They held a potent North Carolina offense to just 26 points and limited Clemson to only 13 first-half points a few weeks ago. Outside of a loss to Virginia Tech, the Eagles have been stout against the run. If that trend continues against Notre Dame, Boston College should be able to force a low-scoring game and stay within striking distance.

A Little Letdown

While Notre Dame is riding high, the Irish could be vulnerable to a letdown after the win over Clemson. Boston College is just good enough to give them trouble if Notre Dame isn’t at the top of its game. The Irish should escape with a win, but bet on Boston College to beat the spread.

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