Virginia Tech @ Boston College preview
Alumni Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 17, 2012 ) Virginia Tech 30, Boston College 23
Virginia Tech will have history and the third-stingiest defense in the nation on its side when it visits Boston College in their Atlantic Coast Conference game on Saturday. The Hokies have won their last five games against the Eagles, including a 30-23 comeback win in overtime last season when Logan Thomas ran for one touchdown and threw for two more - with his second scoring strike serving as the game-winner. Virginia Tech looks to rebound from last week's 13-10 loss to Duke, which dropped the Hokies out of the Top 25.
Boston College will try to bounce back from a 34-10 ACC thrashing by North Carolina despite Andre Williams rushing for 172 yards to go over 1,000 yards for the season. Williams is fifth in the nation among FBS running backs in rushing average at 144.3 yards per game to lead the Eagles' ground-and-pound offense, which has rushed for more than 200 yards in three of its last four games, but will be tested against the Hokies. "This defense is better than all the other defenses we've faced," Boston College coach Steve Addazio said. "They're legit. I knew they were good, and now after watching the tape, I'm like, 'Wow, here we go.' "
TV: Noon ET, ABC/ESPN2. LINE: Virginia Tech -5.
ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (6-2, 3-1 ACC): The Hokies have dominated on defense, allowing opponents an average of only 248.8 yards while ranking second in passing defense and first in interceptions with 17. The sticking point for head coach Frank Beamer has been his offense, which is 111th in yards per game (335.8) and 100th in scoring average (21.5 points). While 6-foot-6 Thomas is already Virginia Tech's all-time leader in passing yardage (7,761) and completions (609), the Hokies have only reached the end zone 13 times in 26 red zone possessions this season to rank 118th out of 123 FBS offenses in red zone scoring percentage.
ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (3-4, 1-3 ACC): It has been a tough debut for Addazio in his first season at the BC helm after wins over Villanova and Wake Forest to start the year. The Eagles have since gone 1-4 and allowed 34 or more points in three of their losses. Chase Rettig will make his 40th consecutive start under center, but has struggled with 1,140 yards passing this season, including just 57 yards last week against the Tar Heels, after throwing for 3,065 yards a year ago. Rettig's favorite target remains wide receiver Alex Amidon, who has 46 catches for 585 yards and three touchdowns, ranking third among BC's all-time leaders in receiving yards with 2,353.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Virginia Tech is 60-16 in the ACC since joining the conference in 2004, including 29-8 on the road.
2. Boston College is the ACC's least-penalized team, getting flagged 27 times through seven games to rank eighth-best in the country.
3. The Eagles will be without WR/PR Spiffy Evans, who is out for the season after breaking his clavicle against North Carolina.
PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 20, Boston College 13