Boston College vs. FSU: TV Info, Spread, Injury Updates, Game Time and More
It has been far from pretty, but the Florida State Seminoles are right where they want to be with two games to go as the Boston College Eagles pay Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium a visit Saturday.
Jameis Winston and the Seminoles are in the driver's seat with the destination the top of the ACC and the inaugural College Football Playoff. That said, last week was the team's biggest scare yet, with another comeback victory—this time against Miami (Fla.).
The visitors are already bowl-eligible for the second year in a row and have pulled off a number of upsets and played top programs closely thanks to a stingy defense and great production on the ground.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Saturday's stage is a trap game for a Seminoles team that simply has been unable to pull away from teams it should handily defeat. Boston College qualifies, but it has proven more than capable against the Seminoles and other big programs as of late.
Under Pressure
It seems each and every week, the globe awaits a gargantuan misstep by Winston and Co. against various opponents.
Each and every week, the Seminoles hold strong. It took 13 points in the final frame and a touchdown with about three minutes left in regulation, but Jimbo Fisher's team survived the Hurricanes last week to keep the winning streak alive.
That said, it has to come to an end at some point, right?
"Pressure breaks pipes ... or it makes diamonds," wideout Rashad Greene said, per The Associated Press (via ESPN.com). "And right now, we're shining. We're able to play with pressure."
As the AP notes, the Seminoles have spent 252 plays trailing this season as opposed to 93 over the course of the entire 2013 campaign. Last week's game was the third time in four outings Winston and Co. needed some late-game magic to win.
Part of the issue is the defense. The unit ranks 34th in the nation with an average of 22.8 points allowed per game. Oklahoma State scored 31 on the unit, NC State posted 41, Notre Dame had 27, and Louisville dropped 31.
The performance of the unit has not made life easier on Winston, either, who has completed 65.8 percent of his passes this season for 2,844 yards but has 18 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
While the mark of a great team is finding ways to win, Florida State continues to flirt with disaster. Things may come to a head against an underrated Boston College squad.
Rekindling the Magic
Steve Addazio's team actually ranks better than the Seminoles defensively, allowing just 21.9 points on average to come in 23rd. That NC State team that dropped 41 on the Seminoles scored 14 on the Eagles.
But the focal point when it comes to breaking down the Eagles is the offense. Senior quarterback Tyler Murphy is one of the best dual-threat players in the nation. His numbers through the air—1,293 yards, nine touchdowns to 10 interceptions—are passable, but the important note is that he leads a long line of effective rushers:
| Tyler Murphy | 144 | 1011 | 7.0 | 71 (TD) | 9 |
| Jon Hilliman | 160 | 620 | 3.9 | 52 | 11 |
| Myles Willis | 73 | 413 | 5.7 | 68 (TD) | 2 |
| Sherman Alston | 30 | 306 | 10.2 | 54 (TD) | 2 |
| Tyler Rouse | 39 | 155 | 4.0 | 14 | 2 |
The team as a whole is battle tested, too. Against then-No. 9 USC back in September, the Eagles got a 37-31 upset thanks to five total rushing touchdowns. Two trends stick out about the Eagles, too—the team is undefeated on the road this season and has yet to lose two games in a row (the Eagles lost last time out at the hands of Louisville).
Keep in mind that these same Eagles jumped out to an early 17-3 advantage over the Seminoles last year, only to wind up losing.
If Boston College can jump out to an early lead against a Seminoles team that continues to struggle out of the gates, Murphy and Co. must put themselves in a position to kill the clock and control the game.
It all combines to one big "if," but the blueprint is certainly there.
When: Saturday, November 22, 3:30 p.m. ET
Where: Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, Florida
Television: ESPN2, ABC
Betting Lines (via Odds Shark):
- Over/Under: 56.5
- Spread: Florida State (-19)
Team Injury Reports
| Mehdi Abdesmad | DT | 10/07/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | knee |
| Drew Barksdale | WR | 10/17/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | hamstring |
| Kevin Bletzer | LB | 11/16/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Florida State | Questionable | leg |
| Harrison Jackson | WR | 08/26/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | knee |
| John Johnson | CB | 11/16/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Florida State | Questionable | wrist |
| Tim Joy | LB | 08/26/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | knee |
| Mike Knoll | K | 11/16/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Florida State | Questionable | groin |
| Bobby Swigert | WR | 10/17/2014 | is out indefinitely | Out | knee |
| Harris Williams | G | 08/31/2014 | is expected to miss the remainder of the season | Out | ankle |
| Colin Blake | S | 10/29/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | shoulder |
| Demarcus Christmas | DT | 11/16/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Boston College | Questionable | ankle |
| Ukeme Eligwe | LB | 11/07/2014 | was dismissed from the team | Out | disciplinary |
| Isaiah Jones | WR | 08/16/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | academics |
| Nile Lawrence-Stample | DT | 09/24/2014 | will miss the remainder of the season | Out | pectoral |
| Tyrell Lyons | S | 11/16/2014 | is questionable for Saturday's game against Boston College | Questionable | hamstring |
| Delvin Purifoy | LB | 08/31/2014 | will miss the entire season | Out | ankle |
Injury reports per The Sports Network, via USA Today.
Prediction
At this point, the Seminoles are what they are.
They are a team that is worthy of a title shot despite its love for living on the edge. Fisher's team is going to have serious issues halting the run Saturday, but surrendering enough points to lose is another conversation entirely.
It should be no major shock if the Seminoles are playing from behind at some point, but as always seems to be the case, a timely play or two from Winston will put his team ahead.
Like their meeting last season, halftime adjustments and sheer talent will win out in the end.
Prediction: Seminoles 34, Eagles 24
Statistics and info courtesy of ESPN unless otherwise specified.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
