More CFN preview stuff

College Football News released more of their preview features. They consider BC the 5th best team in the Atlantic Division and the 9th best team in the ACC.

There is plenty of good news, like they pick Dillon to be the Offensive Player of the Year. Also, Sweeney, Lindstrom, Allen, Walker and Dennis made first team All ACC.

And here are the opponent previews, I have yet to highlight:
-- Clemson
-- Virginia Tech

More opponent previews

Here is a new batch of opponent previews from College Football News.

-- Florida State
-- Miami
-- Syracuse

CFN's BC preview

CFN posted their BC preview and it is pretty thorough and pretty predictable. The season is going to come down to Dillon and Brown. Overall they also see us around the six or seven win mark...so more of the same.

They are very optimistic about the OLine and the D bouncing back from last year's decline. What gives them concern is the schedule. They term it "brutal." I don't see it that way. Or at least not any more brutal than other recent schedules. There are three built in wins and that leaves Addazio to get three more out of the remaining nine games to get to a bowl. That's a low bar to me, not brutal.

Overall, it is a fair and good preview and a reminder that Football is closer than we think.

Where did BC fall in CFN's final ranking?

It was a 7-6 year, but it still felt a little different this season. BC found itself in a big hole and then it went on a refreshing win streak. At times the team looked like it could beat anyone. The next week, you were surprised with some of the simple struggles. College Football News seems to have more respect for BC's accomplishments than maybe even a regular BC fan. CFN put BC at No. 28 in their Final Season Rankings.

If you look, some familiar teams are around BC (Iowa, Wake, NC State). I guess another win might have helped perception a little, but clearly not much.

I don't know if BC is a Top 25 team next year, but that should be the expectation. There are plenty of pieces coming back and the schedule is manageable. I don't want to be sitting here a year from now, glad that CFN or some other site almost ranked BC.

Opponent previews

CFN has been posting their Spring recaps and season previews. It is a useful tool to get up to speed on BC's future opponents. Here are their summaries of a few of the teams on BC's schedule.

-- Notre Dame
-- Northern Illinois
-- UConn
-- Louisville

CFN predicts each game on BC's schedule

How does 6-6 sound? That's what College Football News predicts for BC's season. After last year that would be an improvement, however, it would still seem hollow. As part of the prediction they expect BC to go 2-6 in ACC play.

6-6 does not allow for even one upset. I hope that our style of play and improved offense allows BC to steal at least one game. Think of some of the close games from last year. Something should have broken our way. If Addazio can't pull out any close games, then you really have to start questioning his game management abilities. 

CFN does not get into Bowl predictions, but 6-6 would make BC eligible and likely headed to a bowl game. Whatever it takes to get that seventh win and over .500. 

More ACC preview stuff

CFN put out more of their ACC previews, this time with an overview of the conference. Like the past few years, they expect Florida State and Clemson to be at the top. While it sucks to have the two powers in our division, this is actually not a bad thing for BC. We are in rebuilding mode and unlikely to challenge for the ACC Championship. Ideally when we are peaking in a season or two, something will have happened to FSU or Clemson (or both) like a coaching change or scandal, that can make BC's rise a little faster.

BC did get mentioned in certain categories like Hot Seat. I don't think there is an appetite to replace Addazio yet. Barring another winless ACC season, I think he's back in 2017.

CFN still doesn't think much of our QB situation.

More opponent previews

CFN put out two more ACC Atlantic previews. This week they looked at Clemson and Louisville. Of the two, I think Louisville is the better matchup for BC. Last year we really frustrated their Offense. While I trust Petrino to work out the kinks, I still think an aggressive approach can rattle the still young Jackson.

Clemson will probably start the season very high in the polls. We will be viewed as one of their conference cupcakes. Knowing Addazio, we will probably be highly conservative and hope to keep it close. Maybe things will change with the new Offensive leaders, but I still don't think Addazio will suddenly become a daring game manager.

The ultimate good news is that both games are at home.

CFN's BC Preview and the challenges or BC's current roster

College Football News posted their BC preview and their roster breakdown. The preview is pretty straightforward and hits on most of what we know and expect. Reading the player piece was a bit more of a reminder of the challenges we face this season. CFN ranks BC's best players as Hilliman,Wujciak, Daniels, Kavalec, Simmons, Adbesmad, Williams, Alston, Willis and Moore. Going purely on their history, that is not an elite group of players. If those guys are really BC's best players, then we need to hope for a few breakout seasons.

Of CFN's best, a few might still become All-ACC players (Hilliman, maybe Alston, maybe Kavalec?). Hilliman will probably get plenty of carries and showed great potential last year. Alston is a playmaker in space. If BC can get him the ball in situations other than sweeps, he could also be elite. Kavalec will get plenty of chances to make plays on defense. He started strong last year before plateauing a bit. Let's hope he can make the jump.

A couple of guys showed moments of greatness in the past, but now face huge question marks due to injury (Williams and Adbesmad). I have a little more faith in Williams' return since his injury and recovery were fairly typical. I don't know what to expect from Adbesmad. Like Swigert, after so many setbacks, any production Addazio gets is a bonus.

The other guys -- Simmons, Willis, Wujciak, Daniels, and Moore -- are all likeable and productive players. Each will make a play or two over the course of the year that will win BC a game. BC has won for decades with guys like these. Yet on our best teams, I don't think any would have cracked the Top 10. This is where I feel like the downturn in talent/recruiting under Spaz finally shows itself. Spaz and his staff found plenty of "BC guys." But didn't find enough elite difference makers that you need to win a conference.

But the shallow preseason Top 10 doesn't mean that all hope is lost. I do believe in Addazio's young talent and think that plenty of recruits who didn't make the list will step up and have huge seasons.

Primer for the Spring Game and other links

Saturday is BC's annual Jay McGillis Memorial Spring. In addition to football, there is a variety of "family fun" events. If you haven't gone and have kids, give it a shot. If you are hardcore football fan, get to the game and then share reports with all of us who cannot be there. The game will be available on bceagles.com. I don't think we can glean too much out of it, but it will be our first look at Kevin Rogers' offense. I'll have my thoughts after I've watched the game.

The staff at College Football News doesn't think much of our current coach, or our former one.

Baseball lost to Clemson Friday night. During the football game you can walk over and catch an inning or two of Saturday's double header.

Hoosiers at the Heights and other links

As rumored, BC will host Indiana for this year's ACC/Big Ten Challenge. Indiana is still rebuilding but it is always nice to see a traditional power at Conte. This game will come on the heels of the Old Spice Challenge in Orlando at Thanksgiving. We should know a lot about this team after that stretch. (I know I said the same thing last year and was wrong...)

The ACC meetings closed without a resolution on the TV deal. I know Fox has real interest in getting in on ACC football, however, I think the ACC worries about a potential lack of presence on ESPN and what that would mean for the brand.

CFN produced another solid season preview of the team. It also includes depth charts, Offensive Scouting and Defensive Scouting.