BC-Virginia Tech
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Spread: VAT -6
M/L: VAT -230, BC +190
Total: 40.5
Betting odds c/o 5dimes
Boston College improved to 1-1 last week with a victory over UMass, winning 26-7. Eagles QB Patrick Towles threw 12 of 22 for 191 yards with two TDs and one interception, while rushing for a team-leading 66 yards on 12 carries.
The Eagles generated 191 passing yards and 153 rushing yards, but were still able to come back from a 7-0 first quarter deficit by virtue of blanking the Minutemen the remainder of the game. RB Jon Hillman rushed for 54 yards on 22 carries (just 2.5 yards per), but had the lone Eagles rushing TD.
Check out our college football odds page for instant line updates on every game.
Mike Knoll hit 2 of 2 field goals, including a 40-yarder and knocked down 2 of his 3 extra points. Myles Willis did a good job on kick returns, handling two for 66 yards while Tyler Rouse averaged 11.2 yards per punt return on five attempts. WR Jeff Smith had a big game with 98 yards on five catches, including a 46-yard catch and a pair of TDs.
The Eagles will go as far as Towles can carry them, though. He is throwing 59 percent on the year, but has already thrown two picks and his passer rating is 137.8. Smith and Charlie Callinan both have over 100 receiving yards on the season, but outside of that pair only eight catches have been made (five by Michael Walker).
The Eagles are not overly loaded at the skill positions and Hillman is going to have to get more than four yards per carry as the heavily relied upon backfield option. But keeping pace with Virginia Tech is not out of the question, if the Eagles defense can manage to step up. Boston College is just six-point underdogs in this game which will air at 3:30 PM ET on ESPN U.
Virginia Tech fell 45-24 to then-No. 17 Tennessee last week, after knocking off Liberty 36-13 in a relatively meaningless Week 1 tuneup. In the loss to the Vols, VT QB Jerod Evans threw 20 of 28 for 214 yards with a TD while rushing for another 18 yards on 16 carries. RB Travon McMillan had a big game in the Tech backfield with 127 yards on 14 carries and a TD, and Shai McKenzie added another TD on his five carries and 21 yards.
Shop and compare the best online sportsbooks with our sportsbook review page.
WR Cam Phillips had 77 yards on seven catches, and the Hokies had four receivers all with four catches or more as the team reeled up 214 passing yards. Greg Stroman did a good job returning kicks with 106 yards on his five attempts and a long-return of 34 yards. Michell Ludwig’s punting must improve after averaging just 34.4 yards per attempt on his five punts, with a long of just 43-yards.
Evans has thrown for 435 yards at a 66.7 percent clip with five TDs and no picks on the season. His passer rating is 155.1. Evans has rushed for 64 yards on 21 attempts, but he does have a long run of 37 yards. McMillan has rushed 27 times this season for 166 yards and has a 69-yard TD run this season already.
The Hokies average 4.2 yards per carry and have 392 rushing yards on the season. Isaiah Ford and Cam Phillips have done most of the receiving damage with 18 catches and nearly 300 yards between them.
6-foot-7 junior Bucky Hodges has 81 total yards on the season, with six catches accounting for 55 of that, and five rushes for 26 yards. His dual-threat nature at tight end is a wildcard that the Hokies can seek to exploit more as the season unwinds.
Get a full season of NFL and college football picks for just $549 with our early bird special. That is a savings of $150 off the regular price.
