Virginia Cavaliers vs Boston College Eagles Picks and Predictions October 5th 2024

Scott Stadium in Charlottesville is the setting for the upcoming matchup between the Boston College Eagles and Virginia Cavaliers. Kickoff is set for 12:00 ET, and the game can be seen on ACCN. The Cavaliers are the -2.5 point favorites at home, with the over/under line currently at 50 points. Both teams come in with just one loss on the season, as Boston College is 4-1 and Virginia is 3-1.

Boston College vs. Virginia Key Information

Boston College enters Week 6 with a 4-1 record, ranked 47th in our power rankings. They have a 92.5% chance of becoming bowl-eligible but only a 1.7% chance of winning the Atlantic Coast. The Eagles are 2-0 at home and 1-1 on the road this season.

Their ATS record stands at 2-2, with a 2-0 mark on the road and 0-2 at home. Boston College has been favored in two games, going 0-2 ATS as the favorite, but they are 2-0 ATS as the underdog. Their average scoring margin is +14 points per game.

Boston College’s over/under record is 0-4, with their games averaging 45.6 points. Their average over/under line has been 49.4 points, and this week’s line is set at 50 points.

Boston College’s offense is just outside the top 50 in scoring, averaging 29.8 points per game, and they are ranked 42nd in our offensive power rankings heading into week 6. They have focused on the run, with 38.6 rushing attempts per game, and they are averaging 181.8 rushing yards per game.

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Treshaun Ward leads the team with 275 rushing yards, averaging 6 yards per carry, and has scored two touchdowns. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos has thrown for 729 yards with 10 touchdowns and two interceptions, giving him a passer rating of 126. Lewis Bond has 279 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Boston College’s defense has been a bright spot this season, ranking 24th nationally by allowing just 15.8 points per game. They’ve been strong against the run, giving up only 103.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 29th in the country.

In their recent game, a 21-20 win over Western Kentucky, the Eagles allowed 20 points and 355 total yards. They gave up 123 rushing yards on 39 carries and 232 passing yards, but also forced two interceptions.

Virginia enters Week 6 with a 3-1 record, but their chances of winning the Atlantic Coast are just 0.3%. They have a 39.4% chance of becoming bowl-eligible, according to projections. The Cavaliers are 2-0 on the road but 0-1 at home this season.

Virginia has been favored in three of their four games, going 2-1 as the favorite. Their average scoring margin is +6.8 points per game, and they are 1-1-1 against the spread this season.

The over/under line for this week’s game is set at 50 points. Virginia’s games have averaged 53.8 points, with their average over/under line at 54.3 points. Their over/under record stands at 2-1 for the season.

Virginia’s offense has been productive in the passing game, ranking 39th in completions and averaging 260.5 yards per game. Quarterback Anthony Colandrea has thrown for 1,032 yards with a 68.3% completion rate, leading the Cavaliers to 30.2 points per game. Virginia ranks 49th in scoring and 62nd in our offensive power rankings heading into week 6.

Colandrea has seven touchdown passes but also four interceptions, with a passer rating of 99. Malachi Fields leads the receiving corps with 349 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, Virginia averages 195.5 rushing yards per game, with Xavier Brown rushing for 293 yards and averaging 8 yards per carry.

Virginia’s defense has allowed an average of 23.5 points per game this season, ranking 34th nationally. In their recent game against Coastal Carolina, they gave up 24 points but limited the Chanticleers to just 14 first downs and 82 rushing yards on 24 attempts.

Opponents have averaged 125.2 rushing yards per game against Virginia, while quarterbacks have thrown for 269.5 yards per game. Virginia’s secondary has allowed a 58.9% completion rate and a passer rating of 89.7.

With the over/under line set at 50 points, our projection of 53 total points suggests that taking the over is the best play for this matchup between Virginia and Boston College. Virginia is the slight -2.5 point favorite at home, but we expect Boston College to not only cover the spread but to win the game outright. Our projected final score is 27-26 in favor of Boston College, making them a strong bet as the road underdog.

BC Bids to Stifle Virginia Rushing Attack in ACC Matchup

Boston College will face the challenging task of slowing down Virginia’s resurgent rushing attack when the two teams clash on Saturday afternoon in an Atlantic Coast Conference showdown in Charlottesville, Va.

Virginia’s Potent Ground Game

The Cavaliers (3-1, 1-0 ACC) enter the game well-rested after a bye week, fresh off an impressive 43-24 victory over previously unbeaten Coastal Carolina on Sept. 21. In that contest, Virginia piled up a staggering 384 rushing yards, marking the program’s highest total since 1998 when they amassed 446 yards against San Jose State.

“We want to run the football,” Virginia coach Tony Elliott said. “We want to be effective running the football. We want to be efficient. And then in games where we have opportunity to lead and dominate with the rush, that’s what we want to do.”

Virginia’s offense has played a major role in the team’s best start since 2019, when they began 4-0. Currently, the Cavaliers rank third in the ACC with an average of 195 rushing yards per game.

Key Players in the Virginia Rushing Attack

Leading the Cavaliers’ rushing charge is Xavier Brown, who has tallied 293 yards and leads the ACC with a staggering 8.9 yards per carry. He is complemented by running back Kobe Pace, who has recorded 210 rushing yards, and dual-threat quarterback Anthony Colandrea, who has contributed 135 yards on the ground.

These three key players will test a solid Boston College defense that has been effective against the run, ranking sixth in the ACC by allowing just 101.4 rushing yards per game. In addition, the Eagles have been stingy in the red zone, surrendering only two rushing touchdowns in their five games thus far.

Boston College’s Defensive Challenge

Boston College (4-1, 1-0 ACC) will be coming off a 21-20 comeback victory over Western Kentucky last weekend. After falling behind 20-7, the Eagles rallied, scoring two touchdowns in the final 11:36 to pull out the narrow win. Grayson James, filling in for injured quarterback Thomas Castellanos, rushed for one touchdown and threw for another to lead the comeback.

“Our guys hung in there,” Boston College coach Bill O’Brien said. “They’re resilient. They’re a tough group of guys. They practice hard. They work very hard. When they came (into the locker room at halftime), they looked in the mirror and self-assessed, and they went out there and played better in the second half. I’m very proud of that.”

Quarterback Uncertainty for Boston College

While Grayson James delivered in Castellanos’ absence, Castellanos’ status for Saturday’s game remains uncertain. He returned to practice on Tuesday, but it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to play against Virginia.

“I think he’s doing all right,” O’Brien said. “I thought he showed up ready to go today and had a decent practice. And Grayson will be ready to go, so we have two guys that can play, no doubt about it.”

Series History Favors Boston College

Boston College holds a commanding 7-1 lead in the all-time series between the two schools, including a tight 27-24 victory over Virginia last season in Chestnut Hill, Mass. The only Virginia win came in 2020, when the Cavaliers secured a 43-32 victory at home in Charlottesville.

With both teams eyeing a critical ACC win, Saturday’s matchup promises to be a physical battle, particularly in the trenches, as Boston College looks to neutralize Virginia’s powerful rushing attack.