Missouri Tigers vs Boston College Eagles Picks and Predictions September 14th 2024

SEC Network will be covering the week three non-conference matchup between the Boston College Eagles and Missouri Tigers, set to kick off at 12:45 ET from Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia. Both teams are 2-0 heading into this game. Missouri is the -16.5 point favorite, with the over/under line currently set at 54 points. The money line odds have Boston College at +529 and Missouri at -788.

Boston College vs. Missouri Key Information

• Teams: Eagles at Tigers
• Where: Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium Columbia
• Date: Saturday, September 14th
• Betting Odds MISSR -788 | BOSCOL +529 O/U 54

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The Eagles Can Win If…

Boston College improved to 2-0 after a dominant 56-0 win over Duquesne. No betting lines were available for this matchup.

The Eagles took control early, leading 14-0 after the first quarter. By halftime, Boston College had extended their lead to 42-0, and they added another touchdown in the third quarter. The Eagles’ defense was excellent, shutting out Duquesne and allowing just 107 total yards.

Boston College’s offense was unstoppable in their 56-0 win, racking up 563 total yards and 22 first downs. The Eagles’ ground game was particularly strong, with 306 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Turbo Richard led the rushing attack with 74 yards on 15 carries.

Quarterback Thomas Castellanos completed 90% of his passes for 234 yards and four touchdowns, earning a perfect passer rating of 158.33. Lewis Bond was his top target, hauling in five receptions for 98 yards and a score.

Boston College’s defense was dominant in their most recent game, limiting Duquesne to just 62 rushing yards and 75 passing yards on 23 attempts. The Eagles’ defense allowed only 8 first downs and 137 total yards, coming away with two interceptions and holding Duquesne scoreless in a 56-0 victory.

• Boston College will look to keep things rolling as they have put together a mark of 3-0 over their past three games. The team has also been excellent vs the spread, going 3-0. Their over-under record in these games was 1-2.
• Across Boston College’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 7-3. Their record against the spread in this stretch is 6-4 to go along with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Tigers Can Win If…

Missouri’s season is off to a strong start, with the Tigers moving to 2-0 after a 38-0 win over Buffalo. The Tigers, who were -32 point favorites, not only won but also covered the spread. The game’s over/under was 51.5 points, but the combined score of 38 points fell short.

Missouri’s defense was dominant, shutting out Buffalo, while the offense put up 38 points. The Tigers led 3-0 after the first quarter and then exploded for 21 points in the second quarter, taking a commanding 24-0 lead into halftime. Missouri added a touchdown in the third quarter and another in the fourth to finish off Buffalo.

Missouri’s offense was dominant in their 38-0 win, racking up 518 total yards and 28 first downs. The Tigers’ ground game was particularly effective, as they rushed for 255 yards and five touchdowns. Nate Noel led the way with 73 yards on 12 carries, finding the end zone once.

Brady Cook completed 77.8% of his passes for 228 yards, with a passer rating of 81.48. He connected with Theo Wease Jr. 13 times for 149 yards, but Missouri’s passing attack was held out of the end zone and threw one interception.

Missouri’s defense was dominant in their most recent game, holding Buffalo to just 55 passing yards on 6 completions. The Tigers’ secondary also came up with an interception, limiting Buffalo to 169 total yards. Missouri’s run defense was solid, allowing 114 yards on 32 carries, and they kept Buffalo off the scoreboard, winning 38-0.

• Missouri has put together a record of 3-0 over their past three games. Against the spread, the team is 2-1 in these same games while going 1-2 on the over/under.
• Through their last ten regular season contests, Missouri has a record of 8-2. Across these games, their ATS record was just 5-5, while posting an over-under record of 4-6.

The Lean

Missouri is favored by -16.5 points in their week three matchup against Boston College. We expect the Tigers to come out on top with a final score of 38-17, covering the spread as the home favorite.

With the over/under line set at 54 points, our projection of 55 total points suggests that taking the over is the best play for this game.

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No. 6 Missouri, No. 24 Boston College Look to Keep Climbing in Top 25 Clash

No. 6 Missouri (2-0) looks to solidify its place in the upper echelons of college football as they host No. 24 Boston College (2-0) this Saturday in Columbia, Mo. Both teams are off to impressive starts and aim to continue their early-season success in this highly anticipated Top 25 showdown.

Missouri’s Dominant Start

Offensive Firepower

Missouri has started the season in commanding fashion, recording blowout wins over Murray State (51-0) and Buffalo (38-0). The Tigers have accumulated over 1,000 total yards in their first two games, showcasing depth on both sides of the ball.

Quarterback Brady Cook has been efficient, completing 48 of 67 passes for 456 yards and a touchdown, while also proving his versatility with 84 rushing yards and three scores. Missouri’s balanced attack has seen contributions from multiple running backs, with Nate Noel leading the way with 121 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and Marcus Carroll adding 97 yards and a score.

Wide receiver Luther Burden III, a preseason All-American, has had a slow start due to illness but has still contributed with 64 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 21 rushing yards. In his absence, Theo Wease Jr. has emerged as Cook’s go-to target, catching 13 passes for 149 yards in Missouri’s win over Buffalo.

While Missouri’s offense has been prolific, head coach Eli Drinkwitz is aware that defenses are scheming to prevent explosive plays:

“The reality of what we’re figuring out is that teams don’t want to give up explosive plays versus our wide receiver corps, so we have to be willing to make them defend us differently,” Drinkwitz said.

Defensive Efficiency

Missouri’s defense has also been stellar, allowing zero points through two games. Their ability to stifle opposing offenses will be tested by Boston College’s balanced offensive attack.

Boston College’s Strong Start and Offensive Balance

Impressive Early Wins

Boston College has looked equally impressive to start the season, highlighted by a 28-13 upset over then-No. 10 Florida State in Tallahassee. The Eagles followed that win with a dominant 56-0 victory over Duquesne, securing their first appearance in the AP Top 25 since 2018.

Despite the national attention, first-year head coach Bill O’Brien has kept his team focused:

“I think it’s great for BC, but really that’s not our focus at all. It’s about one day at a time and trying to get better,” O’Brien said.

Thomas Castellanos Leading the Way

Boston College’s offense is led by dual-threat quarterback Thomas Castellanos, who has been highly efficient through two games. Castellanos has completed 19 of 26 passes for 340 yards and six touchdowns while adding 81 rushing yards and another score. The Eagles have also dominated on the ground, with Treshaun Ward, Kyle Robichaux, and Turbo Richard each contributing over 100 rushing yards.

O’Brien praised the return of offensive tackle Logan Taylor, who made his season debut last week after missing the first game due to injury:

“Great to have him back. Tough guy, big guy, athletic guy, very important to have him back,” O’Brien said.

What to Watch For

Missouri’s Explosive Offense vs. Boston College’s Strong Defense

Missouri’s high-powered offense, led by Brady Cook, will be put to the test against a Boston College defense that stymied Florida State in Week 1. Look for Missouri to try to establish the run early with Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll, while Brady Cook aims to connect with wide receivers Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr. for big plays.

On the other side, Thomas Castellanos’ dual-threat ability will challenge Missouri’s defense, which has yet to face a quarterback with his versatility this season. The Eagles’ balanced rushing attack could wear down the Tigers’ front seven if they aren’t careful.

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Missouri’s Penalty Issues

While Missouri has been dominant, they’ve struggled with discipline, committing 17 penalties through two games. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz emphasized the need to clean up those mistakes, especially as the competition ramps up.

“Alignment penalties are embarrassing, and that’s on me as head coach. We’ve got to learn to let go and be more disciplined,” Drinkwitz said.

Injury Updates

Missouri could be without tight end Brett Norfleet, who suffered a shoulder injury in the season opener. Offensive guard Cam’Ron Johnson, who sat out last week, could return to bolster the Tigers’ line.

Boston College enters the game mostly healthy, with Logan Taylor’s return to the offensive line being a significant boost for their ground game.

Historical Context

Missouri and Boston College have only met once before, in 2021, when Boston College won an overtime thriller 41-34. As both teams look to continue their rise in the rankings, this matchup could be pivotal as they prepare for tougher conference opponents in the coming weeks.