Game Day Info: Syracuse

No comments this year

What you need to know 

Weather: Indoors, so weather won't be an issue 

Radio: SiriusXM 384

TV: Regional Sports Networks. Here is the link.

BC-Syracuse preview

This is bad. I've been an engaged BC fan for nearly 30 years and I can't remember a season where mood and expectations changed so dramatically. We've had situations where things fell apart, but many of us knew things were tenuous at the time. We've had major injuries before, but I can't think of one where the drop was so significant nor one where we could scheme around things a bit. The good news is that the season can still be saved. We won't win the ACC or go to a real bowl, but we have a chance to turn it around and finish the season on a high note. But to do that, we have to get a win here and stop the bleeding.

What's on my mind (not totally related to this game)

We are halfway into the season and nearing the Signing Day for football and you are not seeing much new news on paying players. Small deals keep getting made, but no blockbusters and you are not really seeing talk of players making their decision based on the new NIL rules. Maybe paying players won't be the game changer people predicted. You could speculate why. My guess is that many players were already getting paid and that others are still getting paid without their likeness being used for anything other than a reason to grease palms. 

Three Simple Keys

1. Get Zay at least seven touches. Syracuse has no one that can stay with him. Getting him in space should lead to multiple touchdowns. 

2. Don't let Syracuse get cheap yards in the running game. I think we can contain them in the passing game. My fear is that our Dline won't stop much...especially when they spread the field. We need the linebackers to be able to stop the run and take care of the underneath stuff. 

3. Continue to force turnovers. Last week we wasted a huge edge in this category. Can't do that again.

Gambling Notes

-- Syracuse leads the series 31-22

-- Syracuse is 6-1 against the spread in their last seven home games

-- Syracuse is 6-0 against the spread in their last six games

The current line is BC+5.5

Factoid

We have won three straight in the Carrier Dome.

Scoreboard Watching

Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech should be a good scouting opportunity. The Hokies are a mess. I wouldn't mind seeing them lose so they check out of their season and provide an easy W.

I hope to see...

A new QB. Hafley has been coy with the media and there is all sorts of gossip and speculation about who will start and who will play. In my opinion, if Hafley does start Grosel after last week and leaving him hanging with the media, he just wasted goodwill in the locker room and with the fanbase.

BC is in trouble if...

They can't throw over a stacked box. Regardless of the QB, we can't be one dimensional.

Bottom Line

I believe this offense has potential and talent. I do think QB play has hindered things. I also believe that Hafley and staff will right things this week. Hopefully that means with a new QB, but if it is Grosel, I hope they have figured out a winning game plan for him. I think this will be back and forth, but BC pulls ahead in the fourth.

Final Score: BC 28, Syracuse 24

Game Day Info: Louisville

No comments this year.

What you need to know.

Weather: Mid 60s .

Radio: SiriusXM 380 .

TV: ACC Network

BC-Louisville preview

We are a year and a half in on Jeff Hafley and it has been overwhelmingly positive. Last week you saw that the honeymoon was over for some of our fans. I am still a big believer and trust his long term plan. What will be interesting is how he handles the remainder of this season. In my opinion the difference between the very good coaches and the all-timers are how they salvage a game or season or program when things are not going their way or they don't have all their weapons. This is where we have to give Hafley time and see what and how he does it. He's never been a Head Coach before. He's also not as experienced on the offensive side of the ball, so he's never been knee deep in a QB controversy/issue. But hopefully he knows enough and is on the same page with his offensive staff so they can smoke and mirror us the rest of the way.

What's on my mind (not totally related to this game)

Perception -- unfortunately -- is still important in college football. In a usual year, the ACC being a mess would be a big issue. The media would be hammering the conference and us. But all of college football is struggling. It is a missed opportunity for the ACC not to fill that void, but at least the conference is being ignored during a messy chaotic season.

Three Simple Keys

1.  Protect Grosel. Louisville will bring pressure. Grosel needs good protection and needs simple reads.

2. Generate turnovers. If we are going to win, we need to be opportunistic and maybe even get some points off of turnover.

3. Don't allow Cunningham to beat them with his legs. We were bad against mobile QBs last year. If we want to win this week, we need a good plan to contain Cunningham.

Gambling Notes

-- BC is 4-2 against the spread in their last six games

-- Louisville leads the series 7-6

-- Louisville is 4-1 in their last five home games

The current line is BC+6.5

Factoid

The home team has won the last three games in this series.

Scoreboard Watching

As deflating as the last two weeks have been, it could be worse. Just look at Syracuse and Virginia Tech. Both are having frustrating seasons and play each other this weekend. It is relevant for us because we will face both. How they do against each other is important. The winner might have new life, while the loser might fire their coach.

I hope to see...

Carlson bounce back. A lot went wrong last week, but Carlson's muffed punt proved to be a huge momentum swing. Let's hope he puts that behind him and is ready to get back to placing the ball well.

BC is in trouble if...

Grosel is in the pocket too much. I know they have tried and are trying everything, but in my opinion nearly any play when he is in the pocket is wasted. He doesn't make good decisions. If we are going to win, we need to keep it simple.

Bottom Line

I am extremely frustrated with how Grosel has played and Hafley's decision not to throw someone else back there. They obviously believe Grosel is the best and only true option. I hope they are right. I think we keep it simple, the D gets opportunistic and BC holds on.

Final Score: BC 24, Louisville 21

Painful

That was one of the worst second halves I can remember. Everything fell apart. And on social media, the critics came out for Jeff Hafley. I give our coach a huge pass for what happened tonight. The Special Teams issues were not coaching...more just fluky. The D was out there a lot so somethings was going to give. I put a lot of blame on the Offense. I am doing everything I can from turning my twitter account into a "bash Grosel" feed, but he is the root of the problem on offense. We have a lot of talent but become so limited with him as QB that the talent is wasted. I think the staff is trying to coach around him but other teams adjust and then we are left with putting Grosel in positions that hurt us. If we don't run the ball down the other team's throat, we won't win with him. 

It will now be on Hafley to regroup and see how he can build a winning offense around a walk-on QB.

Game Day Info: NC State

No comments this year.

What you need to know.

Weather: Low 70s with a 30% chance of rain .

Radio: SiriusXM 193 .

TV: ACC Network

BC-NC State preview

I guess under normal circumstances I like having a break after Clemson. It allows a team to reset and come off the high or low of facing the ACC's Power Team. I hope the time helped BC. They are saying all the right things, but even two weeks later, the Clemson game feels like a huge missed opportunity. And here we are, facing another legitimate team in NC State. They did what we couldn't -- beat Clemson -- and are feeling good about themselves. It is up to BC to bounce back and win an important game and establish who we are in the conference.

What's on my mind (not totally related to this game)

The Alison Foley lawsuit finally hit the news this week. It had been circulated for a while, but the Heights was the first organization to touch it. In my opinion, it is not a big deal. She had been at BC a long time and had a certain level of success but had also worn out her welcome. The suit doesn't make anyone look good (including Foley, Jarmond, Bates and BC). In general BC has a history of paying well at the time of separation to avoid problems like this. But ultimately Women's Soccer is not moving the needle for many nor will it gain much attention. Even the gender discrimination issue becomes a bit muddied when you factor in the player complaints against Foley. I don't know how this will play out, but like BC's history of paying well at separation, BC also has a history of not settling. They probably think they have a strong case against Foley and certainly have more time and resources to fight their case.

Three Simple Keys

1. Contain the big plays. It seems like we are going to be a classic bend but don't break team. We've all been there before. But to do it well, you can't allow the big plays and need to force a few turnovers.

2. Establish the run early. That is our biggest advantage. We need to dictate pace of play and help Grosel.

3. Get to Devin Leary. I know we don't have pass rushers, but this might be the least mobile QB we've faced in two years. You got to get to him a bit.

Gambling Notes

-- NC State is 3-2 against the spread this year

-- BC leads the series 10-7

-- BC is 4-1 against the spread this season

The current line is BC+3.5

Factoid

This is the first time BC has hosted NC State on consecutive years since the 1930s.

Scoreboard Watching

It is a very light ACC Football weekend. The game that might be most interesting to us is actually Friday's matchup between Clemson and Syracuse. I am already counting on the Cuse game as a win for BC, but to their credit they have been in many tight games. It will be interesting to see how they do against Clemson.

I hope to see...

a comfortable win. The pacing and blood pumping of the Mizzou and Clemson games are reminders why we follow this stuff. But I would gladly take a nice, easy, stress free ACC win this weekend.

BC is in trouble if...

Grosel turns the ball over more than twice. NC State is not some ball hawking team, so Grosel should be fine as long as he is on target and smart.

Bottom Line

I know I keep hammering home that each new game is a test for Hafley, but it is true. Last game was a missed opportunity. It was a missed chance to break through. Those misses then become reflections on the coach to see how he handles it, learns from it and readies his team again. I think we will have a solid, Grosel friendly game plan, play good D and overpower NC State on the OLine.

Final Score: BC 27, NC State 20

Wasted opportunities

That one will hurt for a while. BC should have won. This Clemson team is not good and BC's D -- which should be its liability -- did more than enough to win. But the Offense made too many mistakes and Dennis Grosel made more than his fair share of those mistakes for BC to beat anyone. 

I've whined about the Jurk injury already and on social media, but what makes this all more frustrating is that outside of QB, this might be the most talented offense we've had since Foley (if you include the depth and explosiveness of each position group).

Hafley did not sound defeated in the post game. I trust his steady hand to navigate the rest of the season. But I do think he needs to get snaps to other QBs. Just see what he has. Because he knows what he has in Grosel and the upside is very limited.

Game Day Info: Clemson

No comments this year.

What you need to know

Weather: In the 70s and partially cloudy

Radio: SiriusXM 194

TV: ACC Network