First Responder Bowl: Boston College Eagles vs Boise State Broncos

Boise State & Boston College Match up Well in First Responder Bowl

The Boston College Eagles and the Boise State Broncos meet on Wednesday afternoon at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, TX. They will be playing in the 2018 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. It was formerly the Heart of Dallas Bowl.

TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Boise State -2.5; O/U: 49.

Both Boston College and Boise State will be trying to rebound from disappointing endings to their regular seasons. The Eagles saw a promising season torpedoed by three straight losses. That includes a 21-point home loss against Syracuse to end the season. Boise State had won seven in a row before falling to Fresno State in the Mountain West title game. The Broncos did finish with double-digit victories for the 16th time in their last 20 seasons

Boston College coach Steve Addazio will finish with a 7-6 record for the fifth time in his six seasons if he loses this matchup. The school still likes the direction of the program and has rewarded him with a two-year extension. That will keep him with the team through 2022, in theory. Addazio is 38-38 with the Eagles and 1-3 in bowl games. He’ll be matching wits with fifth-year Boise State coach Bryan Harsin. He is former quarterback with the Broncos, and Harsin is 52-15 with the program and 3-1 in bowls.

The month-plus of rest should do wonders for the Eagles’ star running back A.J. Dillon. He missed two games in the middle of the season with an ankle issue. The bum ankle caused him to struggle at times down the stretch as the injury lingered. Dillon finished with 1,108 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. That legs well behind Broncos junior Alexander Mattison. He rushed had 1,415 yards and 17 touchdowns. He had 400 yards over his last two games. Boise State enters the bowl season ranked 23rd nationally in run defense, giving up 122.9 yards per game. Boston College was 52nd, which ranked 154.9.

This, Than, and a Dart Throw for the First Responder Bowl

Boston College was 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the ACC during the regular season. Quarterback Anthony Brown threw for 2,121 yards and 20 TD’s. He had four of his nine interceptions in the final two games of the regular season. Kobay White had a team-high 33 catches and 526 receiving yards. Jeff Smith led the way with six TD’s. The Eagles are tied for the lead nationally with 18 interceptions. Defensive back Hamp Cheevers has seven of them, and is also tied for the most in the country.

Boise State was 10-3 overall and 7-1 in the Mountain West during the regular season. Brett Rypien was the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year. He won the award after throwing for 3,705 yards and 30 TD’s. Both tallies rank top 10 in the nation. Wideouts Sean Modster and A.J. Richardson combined for 1,803 receiving yards. The duo had eight TD’s a piece through the air. Only five FBS teams had more sacks than the Broncos’ 39. The unit is led by sophomore linebacker Curtis Weaver with 9.5.

PREDICTION: Boise State 33, Boston College 30

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl Betting Odds & Trends

Team Last 5 Games Boston College Eagles

Boise State Broncos

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