Narrative talking point that you’ll tire of by the end of the game. “Alumni Stadium is a very tough place to play. BC is undefeated at home…” As you’ve probably read and heard already, BC has a chance to go undefeated at home for only the second time since 1985 (the 2006 team also went undefeated at home). I don’t want to diminish our fans or stadium, but I don’t think Alumni has suddenly become some sort of house of horrors for visitors. This streak is more about the tough team, the schedule and a little luck. Let’s hope that one day the tight quarters and the weather are complimented by a raucous bunch of fans who get their early and make noise throughout. Right now though the home field advantage is really due to the guys on the field.
Three simple keys
1. No missed assignments up front. Carolina doesn’t do many exotic things with their defensive line. It is more about using their talent and speed to blow up what we are trying to do. In my opinion the game will come down to how our offensive line handles their front four.
2. Get the third and fourth options involved in the passing game. I’ve been harping on this for weeks, but it takes on even more importance this week. UNC will be locking in on Shinskie and looking to pick off everything. If we are going to win it will be because he is passing to Megwa, Flutie, Harris and McCluskey, not Larmond/Gunnell and Jarvis.
3. Stop the run after the catch. Last year the Heels had our secondary spinning sideways with runs after the catch. Nicks is gone but they still have playmakers on offense. Our DBs need to wrap up anyone near them.
Gambling Notes
-- Butch Davis is undefeated against BC
-- BC is 6-2 at home in the month of November since entering the ACC
-- BC is 6-0 against the spread at home this season
The current line is BC-3.5
Factoid
BC has played North Carolina twice in NFL stadiums but never in Alumni.
What I hope to see…
McLaughlin have a big day. He’s one of the rare two time captains in BC history. This is his last home game and he’s played half a season and not at 100%. I would love to see him go out on a high note with some big plays.
BC is in trouble if…
Shinskie decides to give a few more “what the hell” chucks into triple coverage. If Virginia was able to turn those into scores, North Carolina surely will.
Bottom Line
I’ll be honest, I don’t have a great feeling about this game. North Carolina is a bad matchup for us defensively and I don’t know if we will score enough points to win. I think it will be sort of a plodding, close game that turns on one big play. I am holding out hope for a win, but don’t expect a pretty performance.
Bottom Line: BC 20, North Carolina 17
Posts
6 comments:
ATL-
I was just reading one of your old posts:
http://atleagle.blogspot.com/2006/01/samson-under-center.html
Good call on Ryan.
And with Shinskie approaching 30, perhaps we have reason to be optimistic about his upside.
Let's hope for something beyond, Harris into the line; short outs to Gunnell, missed bomb to Larmond...Let's hope BC really tries something new and beats a team that is basking on its just-past success.
Our injury report does not look good:
[DE] 11/20/2009 - Jim Ramella is upgraded to probable Saturday vs. North Carolina ( Leg )
[RB] 11/19/2009 - James McCluskey "?" Saturday vs. North Carolina ( Leg )
[DT] 11/20/2009 - Kaleb Ramsey "?" Saturday vs. North Carolina ( Leg )
[RB] 10/30/2009 - Rolandan Finch expected to miss 3-4 weeks ( Mononucleosis )
[DE] 11/14/2009 - Alex Albright "?" Saturday vs. North Carolina ( Ankle )
Here is an blurb from today's Boston Herald quoting Spaz about Harris's 38 carries against UVA:
The sophomore showed yet another dimension last week at Virginia when, with the passing game off-track, he carried the ball 38 times for a bruising 151 yards.
“Montel’s a big league player. He just showed me another side that I hadn’t seen,” BC coach Frank Spaziani said. “Not that I ever questioned him. That was a tough game for a running back. They were tough carries.
“There aren’t many people who can carry the ball 35 or 38 times, nor would we want him to do, but it’s a testament to his character and his qualities. We had to do it and he did it.”
But while Harris showed no signs of wearing down in the game, he sat out yesterday’s practice with general body soreness, with Spaziani saying it was a back problem.
“From carrying everybody,” cracked the coach.
Harris is listed as probable for tomorrow’s game against North Carolina and was confident he’ll play.
Harris probable???? Scary if he can't play...Who then? Smith! Yikes.
But the question I have is why did BC have to run 38 times with Harris. Spaz & Tranq saw no other options than to continue to give Harris the ball?
In short, nope.
Say what you want about his toughness, talent, recurring injuries, or fit within our system, but the way the season has played out, the midseason departure of Josh Haden has really put this football team in a precarious position.
Scariest game of the season
I'm worried, and I hope Shinskie steps up at home and plays lights out. Take what they give us, and don't be afraid to take off running when there's nothing downfield. Here's hoping for a BC win on what should be great weather at Chestnut Hill.
I really want to win so we will have beaten every ACC team since joining the league. That first UNC loss was so ridiculous.
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