BC Buffalo Preview

Boston College looks to be over .500 for the first time this season with a win over the Buffalo Bulls on Saturday. The Bulls come in to the game at 1-2, coming off an overtime win over Army.  BC enters ate 2-2 and won easily over Wagner last weekend.  BC has a clear advantage in talent, and are 19 point favorites heading into Saturday.

What to Watch When BC has the Ball: Buffalo has struggled so far this year stopping the run.  The Bulls have given up an 100 yard rusher every game so far this season.  BC should be able to exploit this.  The Eagles really need to get Jon Hilliman going, before they play Clemson next week.  Hilliman improve for 90 yards last week, but he still had 9 rushes of no gain or negative yards.  Hilliman has been able to break long gains, but he has yet to constantly gain the yards needed to be an every down back.  Davon Jones had a breakout game last week, and look for him to continue to get carries this week.  BC should also be able to move the ball through the air.  Michael Walker and Jeff Smith are more athletic than anyone in the Buffalo secondary, and should be able to produce big plays.  Look for Towles to be given plenty of time to stand in the pocket, and to hit open receivers.

What to Watch When Buffalo has the Ball: Buffalo has struggled to move the ball all year, as they have only scored over 20 points once, and that was in an overtime game.  The Bulls QB, Tyree Jackson, has thrown for only 433 yards in three games so far.  On the ground, the Bulls have not fared much better, with only 544 yards.  The Eagles should be able to dominate the Bulls up front.  BC’s front 7 is by far the best that Buffalo has faced all year, and they should be living in the back field on Saturday.  In the secondary, the Eagles should have no trouble against Jackson, who is very inaccurate.  The one thing the Eagles need to work on is to stop allowing defensive breakdowns.  In their two wins over clearly inferior opponents, BC has given up long touchdowns when the defense losses their assignments.  That has to stop in order for BC to beat better opponents.

Overall: The Eagles are more talented than this Buffalo team.  Look for this game to be similar to the UMASS game earlier in the season.  It will most likely be raining for most of the game, so each team may be sloppier than usual, and big plays could come from each sides special teams units.  BC should be able to control most of the game, but it may be close for the first half. Eventually the BC offensive and defensive line will wear down Buffalo, and produce an easy win.

Prediction: Boston College 33 Buffalo 9