Northwestern Wildcats at Boston College Eagles
Saturday, 9/3/11, 12:00 PM EST, TV: ESPNU
Opening Point Spread: Boston College -3.5
Current Betting Line: Boston College -3
Opening Total: 46.5
Current Total: 45
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Northwestern will be searching for its fifth consecutive win to start a season under current head coach Pat Fitzgerald, while the program as a whole has come away with wins in 12 of 16 openers. The Wildcats have enjoyed great success away from home in recent years, including an 11-5 record since the 2008 campaign. The team has also proven victorious in eight of its last nine regular-season contests against non-conference competition. Northwestern is 5-6 ATS on the road and 10-15 ATS overall the last two seasons.
The Wildcats bring back a wealth of experience, as 31 offensive and defensive players have combined to start 378 games. Northwestern brings back 82.6 percent of its rushing yards, 100 percent of its passing yards and 83 percent of its receiving yardage. Most of the concern heading into the season is once again the health of starting quarterback Dan Persa, as he’s less than nine months removed from surgery to repair his ruptured right Achilles’ tendon. Backup Kain Colter will need to be at the ready. “We’re just preparing for whichever situation presents itself,” said fourth-year tackle Al Netter. Persa completed a school record 73.5 percent of his passes and threw for 2,581 yards last year.
Boston College leads the all-time series, 2-1, with the last meeting coming in 1993. The Eagles dropped that contest by the score of 22-21 on the road despite out-gaining the Wildcats by a 355-285 margin. The team brings back an experienced group, as 100 percent of its passing yards, 93 percent of its rushing yards and 87 percent of its receiving yards return. The program has compiled a losing 11-29 record in 40 games against Big Ten opponents. Boston College is 6-6 ATS as a favorite over the last two seasons.
The Eagles have tallied a 64-31 record at Alumni Stadium since the 1995 season, including a 12-4 mark in home openers. Since joining the ACC in 2005, Boston College is a remarkable 32-8 at the venue. Offensively, the team has an absolute star in running back Montel Harris, who was named the ACC Conference Preseason Player of the Year. He enters with 3,600 career rushing yards, which is the most for any conference player after his junior campaign. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Luke Kuechly is back after an All-ACC first-team campaign.
Bettors will likely back the Wildcats due to their 10-2 ATS mark as a road underdog, while the Eagles are 0-5 ATS in their last five games as a home favorite.
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