Hurricanes, Eagles Resume ACC Rivalry Under Friday Night Lights

After a six-year hiatus, the longtime rivalry between Miami (Florida) and Boston College will finally renew Friday in Chestnut Hill as the Eagles host the Hurricanes in a prime-time matchup on ESPN. Hostilities between BC and Miami date all the way back to the 1980s, when Doug Flutie famously beat the Hurricanes on a last-second Hail Mary, but the Eagles and Canes haven’t met since Miami’s 41-32 win at Boston College in 2012. Both teams come into this contest off a bye and with identical records (5-2 overall, 2-1 ACC), but Miami is coming off a 16-13 loss at Virginia two weeks ago while the Eagles blasted Louisville 38-20 in their most recent outing. Oddsmakers opened the Hurricanes as 3.5-point favorites.

Miami vs Boston College Game Center

ROSIER EXPECTED BACK UNDER CENTER FOR HURRICANES

The short-lived N’Koshi Perry quarterback experiment is over. After giving the freshman pivot the start in Miami’s last two games before the bye, Hurricanes head coach Mark Richt has already announced that much-maligned senior quarterback Malik Rosier will once again be Miami’s No. 1 QB moving forward.

Richt probably didn’t have any other choice after Perry’s performance against Virginia, when the youngster was pulled in the second quarter after throwing two interceptions on his first six attempts. “Right this minute I think Malik is better equipped from his ability and his experiences to lead this team,” Richt told reporters last week.

That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement of his veteran quarterback, who has shown flashes of brilliance during his time in Miami but also struggles with accuracy and consistency. Still, Rosier led Miami to victory in each of the Canes’ first 10 games last season, and reports indicate Richt went back to him this week primarily because of Rosier’s experience reading veteran defenses. How Rosier reacts to his brief benching (he told reporters he was “blindsided” by the demotion a couple of weeks ago) will go a long way toward determining whether Miami can earn the victory on the road.

EXPECT BOTH EAGLES AND THEIR FANS TO BE CHARGED UP

Boston College hasn’t been a difficult place for opposing favorites to visit in recent years. The Eagles are just 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 as a home underdog, and they’ve lost 16 of their last 20 when catching points at Alumni Stadium.

If there is one spot in particular to back the Eagles at home, however, it’s in the Red Bandana Game. Each year, BC dedicates one of its home games to the memory of 1999 graduate Welles Crowther, who saved at least a dozen lives in the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre before he died when the South Tower collapsed. Crowther wore a red bandana that day and was also known for the headwear during his tenure playing lacrosse for the Eagles.

It makes for an emotionally charged atmosphere at Alumni Stadium as BC proudly honors its alumnus, and the Eagles have risen to the occasion with their play as well. In the first edition of the Red Bandana Game, BC upset No. 9 USC 37-31. And last year, the Eagles blasted Florida State 35-3, only Boston College’s second win in seven all-time home games against the Seminoles.

EXPECT THIS GAME TO STAY LOW

When the Hurricanes are on the road or facing a conference foe, their games tend to be lower-scoring. The UNDER is 9-2 in Miami’s last 11 games away from home, and 9-3 in the Canes’ last 12 against ACC opponents. So it’s no surprise that when Miami goes on the road to face an ACC rival, it’s also been an UNDER machine. Miami’s gone UNDER in seven straight road games against ACC opponents, and in 14 of its last 20 in that situation.

I don’t expect things to change here as the Canes should stay conservative on offense, looking to limit Rosier’s potential for mistakes. Boston College should be happy to play things tight to the vest as well, having gone UNDER in 10 of its last 13 home games in conference play.