Notre Dame @ Boston College preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 19, 2011 ) Boston College 14, Notre Dame 16

Notre Dame followed up its most impressive victory of the season at Oklahoma by surviving in triple overtime last week against Pittsburgh, needing a missed field goal in the second extra session to keep its unbeaten season and BCS national championship hopes intact. The fourth-ranked Fighting Irish will be heavy favorites Saturday when they visit a struggling Boston College squad that has proved to be a major nemesis with a pair of shocking upsets in the past 20 years that have derailed Notre Dame's last two shots at a national title. History aside, however, the Eagles hardly appear capable of taking down the Fighting Irish. Boston College owns the worst record in the Atlantic Coast Conference and has already been eliminated from bowl contention.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Notre Dame -19

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (9-0): The Fighting Irish were prime candidates for a letdown following their nationally televised win at Oklahoma, and they had to claw back from a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit to send the game into overtime against Pitt. Freshman quarterback Everett Golson shook off a mid-game benching to rush for the two fourth-quarter touchdowns before diving in to the end zone for the winning touchdown in the third overtime. Notre Dame allowed a season-high 20 points despite limiting the Panthers to 308 yards and 13 first downs while rolling up 522 yards and 34 first downs. Golson, Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood combined to amass 231 yards on the ground as the Fighting Irish improved to 9-0 for the first time since 1993.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (2-7): The Eagles were denied a second straight victory in a turnover-filled 28-14 loss at Wake Forest last week. Chase Rettig threw for 357 yards and a touchdown but was also intercepted three times and lost a fumble to snuff out any chance of a bowl game for the second consecutive season. Wake Forest had entered the game as the lowest-scoring team in the ACC, but managed to convert 13 of 22 chances on third down against a beleaguered defense that has allowed five opponents to score at least 34 points. Wideout Alex Amidon had 10 catches for 130 yards and a touchdown and ranks fifth nationally in receptions (7.4) and receiving yardage (119.2) per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Notre Dame has won the last three meetings between the only two Catholic schools with FBS football programs, including a 16-14 home win last season, but is 3-4 at Boston College.

2. Boston College spoiled Notre Dame's last 9-0 start with a 41-39 victory in 1993, and posted a 14-7 win in 2002 after the Irish had opened 8-0.

3. The Fighting Irish have not won by more than seven points in five games played on their campus, but their margin of victory is 28 points in the other four contests.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 24, Boston College 13