Friday, October 30, 2009

Central Michigan at BC: Pick

Tomorrow is Halloween, and there are a few things scary about this matchup for the Boston College Eagles at home against Central Michigan.  For one thing, the Chippewas are just on the outer reaches of being ranked in the AP and Coaches polls (26th in Coaches, 27th in AP).  They've also put together a 7-1 record and haven't lost since September 5th.  On the other side, the Chippewas are doubtlessly aware that the BC Eagles haven't lost at home this year and have won both all-time matchups against them.

This has all the makings of a close game.  The Eagles don't lose at home, and the Chippewas don't seem to lose at all.  Central Michigan's quarterback, Dan LeFevour, has thrown 16 touchdowns versus only four picks this season, while BC's Dave Shinskie has had a little more of a mixed bag.  Both he and running back Montel Harris had a bad day last weekend in South Bend, but in their previous home game, Montel busted two school rushing records and the Eagles hung over 50 points on hapless NC State.

Boston College will be playing the MAC's best team, but one thing that stands out to me is this: of the teams CBS Sports believes to be in the top 25 (CMU being one of them), they have the easiest strength of schedule at 107th.  Boston College's, for what it's worth, is 46th.  I'm reasonably confident that the Eagles could be 7-1 if they played that kind of a schedule themselves.  I'm not trying to say that CMU isn't a decent team, because they are, but BC is the 2nd best team they will play this season (not including whomever they play in a bowl game), with the best being #23 Arizona to whom they lost.

With BC at home, I will take the Eagles in an entertaining Halloween contest.  Because CMU is good, the Eagles could still get tricked, but I'm leaning towards treat.

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