How experts are projecting BC football’s season to play out
Most ACC writers believe Boston College football will finish 7-5 or 6-6 this season. A few think head coach Steve Addazio will be on the hot seat if BC doesn’t make a noticeable jump this year.
The consensus among all experts is that the Eagles will rely heavily on star running back AJ Dillon, and some also pointed out that quarterback Anthony Brown and linebacker Max Richardson are poised for big seasons.
Many pundits currently have BC in the same echelon as Wake Forest and NC State, so the Eagles’ success in those games could shape their season.
Here’s how experts see it unfolding:
ESPN
Senior Writer Mark Schlabach isn’t too optimistic about the Eagles’ chances. He believes they’ll take a step back, rather than a step forward, and finish the season 6-6 overall and 3-5 in ACC play.
Schlabach expects BC to end up fourth in the Atlantic division, behind Clemson, Syracuse, and Florida State, and ahead of NC State, Wake Forest, and Louisville.
He also put Steve Addazio as his “coach on the hot seat,” though he did predict that the Eagles will upset Florida State. Most experts are high on Florida State this year after a rare down year for the Seminoles a season ago. Schlabach is one of those people, but he believes the Eagles will win this round after losing by one point to FSU a year ago and smacking the Seminoles, 35-3, in 2017.
Preseason media poll
Members of the media determined that BC is most likely to finish fifth in the division, behind Clemson, Syracuse, Florida State, and NC State, and ahead of Wake Forest and Louisville.
Out of 173 voters, 170 chose Clemson to win its fifth straight ACC championship, while two voters went with Syracuse and one picked Virginia, according to CBS Sports.
Voters selected Virginia as the most likely Coastal champion, ahead of Miami, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Duke, North Carolina, and Georgia Tech.
Bleacher Report
Writer Kerry Miller has junior running back AJ Dillon as one of his biggest stars in the conference. Miller noted how Dillon still managed to finish with over 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing two games in October due to an ankle injury.
“September games against Richmond, Kansas, Rutgers, and Wake Forest ought to make Dillon’s name an oft-mentioned one in the early Heisman debate,” Miller wrote.
Miller also put Addazio “on the hot seat,” pointing out that Addazio’s overall record in seven years at Boston College is 38-38.
“The schedule isn’t going to do Addazio any favors this season,” Miller wrote. “Boston College should win at least five of its first seven games, but it’s liable to crash and burn down the stretch against Clemson, Syracuse, Florida State, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh —all of those games on the road except for the one against the Seminoles.”
Miller said it might be time to “hit the reset button” if the Eagles finish 6-6 and Dillon gets drafted.
Bleacher Report also slots the Eagles fifth, at 6-6 (3-5), and the order is the same as in the preseason media poll.
USA Today Sports
Robert Jackson of UGA Wire, via USA Today Sports, is slightly more optimistic in certain areas but not others. He has the Eagles at 7-5 overall and 3-5 in conference, tying for fourth in the Atlantic and ultimately playing in the Independence Bowl in Louisiana.
“Talented at the skill positions and a solid D,” Jackson wrote. “Could finish much higher.”
ACC Sports
Brian Geisinger put together ACC power rankings, combining both divisions, and he has the Eagles at 10th overall.
Geisinger noted that BC only brings back five starters on offense, but he clarified that two of those starters – Dillon and quarterback Anthony Brown – are “pretty darn good.” He called Dillon “a special player” and “one of the best running backs in the country.”
He said Brown is continuing to get better and better but noted the QB has to deal with the loss of pass-catchers Tommy Sweeney and Jeff Smith, along with All-ACC guard and No. 14 overall pick Chris Lindstrom.
Athlon Sports
Steve Lassan expects BC to reach a bowl game once again.
He’s just as high on Dillon’s ability as everyone else. Lassan broke the ACC down by unit, and he put the Eagles’ running backs second and linebackers sixth overall.
However, compared to some other writers, he doesn’t envision the Eagles finishing as high in the standings. He has them sixth in the Atlantic, at 6-6 overall and 3-5 in ACC play, behind Wake Forest and ahead of Louisville.
SB Nation
SB Nation has the Eagles in tier 3 in its four-tier rating system, along with Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Duke, and North Carolina. The Eagles are at the bottom of the tier, though, at 12th overall, only ahead of tier 4 occupants Georgia Tech and Louisville.
The article also has Dillon as the team’s best offensive player and linebacker Max Richardson as BC’s best defensive player.