Stanford Cardinal vs Boston College Eagles Picks and Predictions February 26th 2025

Boston College’s Postseason Hopes on the Line Against Stanford

Boston College enters a pivotal road matchup against Stanford on Wednesday night with its ACC Tournament hopes still in play. The Golden Eagles (12-15, 4-12 ACC) are currently on the outside looking in, sitting one game back from a top-15 spot in the conference standings, which would secure a tournament bid.

The stakes are high for Boston College, which gained momentum last week with two dominant home victories—a suffocating 54-36 win over Virginia Tech followed by a convincing 69-54 victory over Georgia Tech. Those wins have given the Golden Eagles a much-needed boost, but their postseason chances still hinge on their ability to navigate this crucial two-game road trip.

Boston College and Stanford (17-10, 9-7 ACC) are meeting as ACC foes for the first time, but their history dates back 45 seasons to their only previous matchup, a 97-89 Boston College win at the Industrial National Classic in Rhode Island.

Boston College Prepares for the Challenge of Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud

One of the biggest challenges for Boston College will be slowing down Stanford’s standout big man Maxime Raynaud. The 7-foot-1 junior leads the ACC in both scoring (19.9 points per game) and rebounding (11.2 rebounds per game), making him the focal point of the Cardinal offense.

Golden Eagles coach Earl Grant emphasized the importance of interior defense, particularly highlighting the play of his big men, Chad Venning and Jayden Hastings, who combined for nine rebounds and five blocks in Boston College’s win over Georgia Tech.

“Both are great rim protectors, great goalies,” Grant said. “They’re big, they’re long, got a good wingspan, pretty athletic. Chad Venning in particular … I mean, he was a junkyard dog. He cleaned up a lot of mistakes from our guards when the ball was getting downhill and he had some crucial blocks at the rim.”

If Boston College hopes to contain Raynaud and pull off an upset, Venning and Hastings will need to replicate their defensive intensity and physical presence in the paint.

Stanford Eyes 20 Wins for the First Time Since 2019-20

Stanford enters the matchup with its own postseason aspirations. The Cardinal are fresh off a 66-61 victory over rival Cal, a win that snapped a two-game losing streak and secured their first winning season since 2020-21.

Raynaud was instrumental in that victory, finishing with 20 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks to help Stanford maintain its momentum.

First-year Stanford coach Kyle Smith acknowledged the significance of reaching the winning-season milestone while keeping the focus on postseason aspirations.

“Is that possible? Is that right? First time in four years, a winning season,” Smith said. “I didn’t talk about that with our team, but there’s a threshold. I mean, some of the guys have been in the program playing with a heavy burden on them the last couple of years, not necessarily even fair to them. But to have that and with games to go and keep striving for postseason is important.”

A win over Boston College would move Stanford closer to the 20-win mark for the first time since the 2019-20 season when the team finished 20-12. The Cardinal are also still in the mix for improving their ACC Tournament seeding, making this a high-stakes game for both programs.

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Boston College’s Path Forward

For Boston College, a victory at Stanford would be a significant step toward an ACC Tournament bid. With just a few games remaining, every win is crucial for the Golden Eagles as they try to climb the standings.

Their success will likely hinge on a balanced offensive attack led by Claudell Harris Jr. (16.8 points per game) and Devin McGlockton (14.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg). If Boston College can maintain its defensive tenacity while getting consistent scoring from its top playmakers, they have a chance to extend their winning streak and strengthen their postseason chances.

Wednesday’s game sets up as a must-win for Boston College, while Stanford is looking to solidify its position in the ACC pecking order. With both teams fighting for something meaningful, expect an intense and competitive battle in Berkeley.