Boston College @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2014 ) Pittsburgh 30, Boston College 20

Boston College faces a must-win situation as far as bowl eligibility is concerned when it travels to Pittsburgh on Saturday to close out the regular season. The Eagles were routed 33-7 by No. 15 Notre Dame, setting up the pressure game against a Panthers team that was shut out a week ago by Virginia Tech.

The Eagles led 7-6 midway through the second quarter before the Irish took control and beat the Eagles for the seventh straight time 33-7. "Got another game. Last game of the year. Got to go play it. Got to go win it. Got to get bowl eligible. That's it. Get to work," coach Steve Addazio said afterwards. Pittsburgh suffered its worst defeat of the season to streaking Virginia Tech 28-0 and failed to score for the first time since losing 3-0 to Oregon State in the 2008 Sun Bowl. The Panthers rank sixth in FBS in rushing defense (ACC-low 92.6 yards), while the Eagles pace the conference in rushing offense, producing 268.2 yards (sixth in FBS).

TV: 3:30 p.m. ACC Network. LINE: Pittsburgh -9.5.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (5-6, 3-4 ACC): Dennis Grosel was 9-for-20 passing for 63 yards with one interception and added 45 yards on 13 carries, including a 1-yard touchdown plunge. ACC leading rusher AJ Dillon (1,507 yards - third in FBS) was limited to a season-low 56 yards on 14 carries. Notre Dame rolled up 501 yards of offense to the Eagles' 191.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (7-4, 4-3): Kenny Pickett was 10-of-26 for 103 yards - all season lows - versus the Hokies. The Panthers, who were last shut out in a conference game in a 45-0 defeat against Miami at Pitt Stadium on Sept. 28, 1996, were outgained 263-177 to snap a streak of nine straight games in which the Panthers won the total yards battle. Pitt leads the nation with 48 sacks, its most since the 1987 season and the seventh most in school history.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Pitt leads the series 17-13, but the teams haven't played since 2014. The Panthers have won four straight in the series and four straight at home.

2. Eagles LB Isaiah McDuffie, who ranked second on the team in tackles last season, made his first start since Nov. 24, 2018, in the loss to the Irish and finished with six tackles.

3. Pitt DT Jaylen Twyman has a team-high 10 sacks and is tied for ninth nationally (second in the ACC) with 0.91 per game.

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 24, Boston College 13