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BC Will Be America's Team Monday Night - Boston College vs Florida State: Preview & Final Predictions

Boston College Will Be America's Team Monday Night - Boston College vs Florida State: Preview & Final Prediction

Thomas Castellanos (Photo: BC Athletics)
Boston College Football (Photo: BC Athletics)

The 2024 Boston College Eagles football season kicks off on Labor Day night with a challenging road game against the No. 10 Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium. This game marks the official start of the Bill O’Brien era at Boston College, where anticipation is high for the program to take a significant step forward under its new leadership.


Florida State enters the game seeking redemption after a shocking loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland. The Seminoles are eager to bounce back in front of a home crowd, while Boston College looks to make a strong first impression and set the tone for the season.


The Stakes for Boston College


The 2024 season represents a new chapter for Boston College, with Bill O’Brien taking over as head coach. The Eagles are coming off a 7-6 season, including a victory in the Fenway Bowl over SMU, but expectations have been raised with O’Brien at the helm. The fan base and program alike are eager to see how the new-look Eagles will perform, especially against a top-10 opponent like Florida State.


In a recent press conference, O’Brien spoke about the challenge of playing at Doak Campbell Stadium, emphasizing the significance of the environment:

“They’ve got great fans, they have awesome fans, they’ve got a great band. It’ll be loud. That’s what it’s all about. That’s college football, right?” - Bill O'Brien

Boston College vs SMU (Photo: BC Athletics)
Boston College vs Florida State (Photo: BC Athletics)

Current Line: BC +16.0 (O/U 49.5)

Chance Of Winning: 17.4%


According to ESPN Analytics, Boston College has a 17.4% chance of winning this game. The spread for this game is currently 16 points in favor of Florida State, with the over/under around 49.5 points.


Does BC Cover The Spread?


Despite being a two-touchdown underdog, Boston College should be able to cover the spread, especially considering Florida State’s recent struggles. The over/under at 49.5 points suggests a game where points will be contested, with the under looking like a safer bet given both teams’ uncertainties on offense. However, if any team gets rolling this could turn into a high scoring affair. There is way too much uncertainty, stay away from the over/under.


(If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, help is available. Call 1-800-GAMBLER)


Final Score: 28-24 (Boston College Wins)


In this potential upset, Boston College should capitalize on Florida State’s vulnerabilities and win a nail-biter, pulling off a 28-24 victory in Tallahassee. If Castellanos plays up to his potential and the defense can keep Uiagalelei in check, the Eagles have a real chance to start their season with a statement win.


The stage is set for an exciting start to the season. Boston College has the opportunity to begin the Bill O’Brien era with a significant upset, and a victory over a top-10 Florida State team would send a powerful message to the rest of the ACC. As the Eagles take the field, the excitement is palpable—this is the moment they’ve been preparing for.


The Biggest Takeaway:


As the only college football game slated for Labor Day night, the spotlight will be squarely on Boston College when they face off against Florida State. For a few hours, the Eagles will have the entire nation’s attention, and as my colleague Jack Seiberlich aptly put it:

"When you're Boston College, you don't get that many opportunities to be America's team." - Jack Seiberlich, Eagles Weekly

This is more than just an opener for the Eagles; it's a chance to capture the imagination of football fans across the country.


The narrative surrounding this game is rich with irony and drama. Florida State, embroiled in offseason controversy with their public musings about leaving the Atlantic Coast Conference, has found themselves at odds with many within the college football community. Their desire to bolt from the ACC has not only ruffled feathers but has also put a target on their backs. A loss to Boston College would be a moment of poetic justice—starting their season 0-2 in the very conference they’ve considered abandoning.


For Boston College, this is an opportunity to step into the national spotlight and rally fans from all corners of the country who might relish the idea of Florida State getting its comeuppance. If the Eagles can pull off the upset, they won’t just be celebrating a hard-fought victory; they’ll be embraced as America's team, if only for a night, providing the kind of ironic twist that makes college football so captivating.


What to Watch For


1. The Evolution of Thomas Castellanos

Junior quarterback Thomas Castellanos is the key figure in Boston College’s offense. Last season, Castellanos became the first quarterback in school history to pass for over 2,000 yards and rush for over 1,000 in a single season. He also had 400 yards of total offense against FSU's defense last year. However, he has acknowledged that there’s room for improvement, particularly in his passing game, where he threw 14 interceptions and completed just 57.3% of his passes.


Coach O’Brien has expressed confidence in Castellanos’ development, stating:

“Tommy’s had a really good training camp. He’s put a lot of work into this, and he’s a much-improved player. We’re definitely going to let Tommy be Tommy." - Bill O'Brien

How Castellanos handles the pressure in a hostile environment like Doak Campbell Stadium will be crucial to Boston College’s chances.


2. The Florida State Offense vs. BC’s Defense

Florida State’s offense, led by former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei, struggled in their opener against Georgia Tech. Uiagalelei managed just 193 passing yards with no touchdowns, raising questions about the Seminoles’ offensive consistency.


Boston College’s defense will need to capitalize on these uncertainties. The Eagles’ defensive line, led by Donovan Ezeiruaku, must apply pressure on Uiagalelei and force him into mistakes. O’Brien, who is familiar with Uiagalelei from his time at Clemson, noted:

“DJ’s a helluva player, but we need to make him uncomfortable. It’s going to be a battle in the trenches”. - Bill O'Brien

3. The Battle in the Trenches

The matchup between Boston College’s offensive line and Florida State’s defensive front will be critical. The Eagles’ line, anchored by Drew Kendall and Ozzy Trapilo, needs to establish control early to protect Castellanos and open running lanes for Kye Robichaux and Treshaun Ward. Florida State’s defense will be looking to rebound after a lackluster performance against Georgia Tech, so the battle at the line of scrimmage could very well determine the outcome of the game.


4. Special Teams and Red-Zone Efficiency

Special teams and red-zone efficiency are often the deciding factors in close games. Last year, Boston College struggled to convert red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. This season, the addition of 6-foot-5 Texas Tech transfer Jerand Bradley could provide the Eagles with a new red-zone threat, especially if Castellanos can connect with him early.


Depth Chart:


Boston College vs SMU Chart (Photo: BC Athletics)
Boston College vs Florida State Depth Chart (Photo: BC Athletics)

Quotes from the Field


Bill O’Brien on the Challenge of Playing at Doak Campbell Stadium:

“Loud. Yeah, they’ve got great fans, they have awesome fans, they’ve got a great band. It’ll be loud. That’s what it’s all about. That’s college football, right? It’s a great environment, they have great traditions down there so our guys should be excited. That’s what you sign up for when you come to a place like BC."

Kam Arnold on the Importance of a Win:

“It’ll just show the beginning of what’s to come. We got a lot of buzz going around about this team. We got a lot of confidence, we love the coaching staff, how we’ve been attacking this offseason, and we’re ready to go and just show the fans what’s to come."

Drew Kendall on Florida State’s Defense:

“They’ve got a great front seven, they’ve got a talented secondary. It’s gonna take all we got but we’re excited for this challenge."

How To Watch The Game:


Game Time: 7:30 PM ET, Monday, September 2nd, 2024


Where to Watch: ESPN – with play-by-play from BC alum Bob Wischusen, analysis by Louis Riddick, and sideline reporting by Kris Budden.


Radio Coverage: Boston College Sports Network on WEEI 93.7 FM – with Jon Meterparel (play-by-play), Pete Cronan (analyst), and Scott Mutryn (sideline reporter).


As the Eagles take the field in Tallahassee, the excitement is palpable—this is the moment they’ve been preparing for. The 2024 season opener is a chance for Boston College to prove that they are ready to compete at the highest level under Bill O’Brien’s leadership.


For Boston, For Boston!


 

Boston College Football Fans (BCFF) will be covering the game live on X / Twitter!


Please follow @BCFootballFans on X/Twitter for live updates before, during, and after the game.


Mac Hutchinson is the publisher of BCFF, you can follow him on X/Twitter.



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