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Writer's pictureTJ Chapman

DAWGS PREVIEW: FENWAY BOWL BOSTON COLLEGE VS SMU

Updated: Dec 30, 2023





Wasabi Fenway Bowl Logo
Wasabi Fenway Bowl Logo via Wasabi Fenway Bowl

 

The Boston College Eagles (6-6) and the SMU Mustangs (11-2) travel to Fenway Park in Boston, MA to meet in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl. This will be the second meeting between the two teams as SMU defeated the Eagles 31-29 in a home game (in 1986).

 

SMU -10 O/U 49.5



BROADCAST INFORMATION:

 

- Thursday, December 28, 2023, 11:00 AM Eastern Time Kickoff on ESPN

- Chris Cotter and Mark Herzlich will be on the call for ESPN and Sherree Burruss will be on the sideline.

- On the Boston College side the radio broadcast will be on FM 93.7. On the SMU side, the radio broadcast will be on FM 96.7 and AM 1310.

 

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

 

If Boston College wins it will give the Eagles 7 wins in a season for the first time since 2018. This is also the Eagles' first bowl appearance under fourth-year head coach Jeff Haffley. If SMU wins it will be the first time in program history that the Mustangs finish a season with 12 wins.

 

KEY PLAYERS

 

Boston College

 


QB Thomas Castellanos – 57.1% passes completed for 2,146 yards with 15 TDs and 13 INTs. He is also the leading rusher on the team with 957 yards, which is third amongst quarterbacks in the nation, and also leads the Eagles with 11 rushing TDs, tied for fifth by a quarterback.

 

RB Kye Robichaux – Second on the team with 691 yards and 7 TDs.

 

11 Boston College players have entered the transfer portal since the end of the regular season.

 

SMU



QB Kevin Jennings – Freshman whose first career start was in the AAC Conference Championship Game on December 2, 2023. 64.9% of passes were completed for 427 yards with 4 TDs and 2 INTs. He also has 91 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD.

 

RB Jaylan Knighton – 720 rushing yards and 7 TDs.

 

Six SMU players have entered the transfer portal since the end of the regular season.

 

SMU/Boston College KEY MATCHUPS

 

Boston College’s rushing attack against a stingy SMU defense. Boston College ranked 19th in the country averaging 193.5 rushing yards per game. The one-two punch of Castellanos and Robichaux has been very good and should be a tough test for the Mustangs. However, that SMU rush defense is ranked 11th in the nation with an average of 111.2 rushing yards per game given up. It looks like a 'tough versus tough' matchup!

 

SMU’s run game against a very poor Boston College run defense. Even though SMU is primarily an Air Raid team they also run the ball very well, ranked 35th in the country with 180.4 rushing yards per game. Jennings is a dual-threat quarterback who ran for 63 yards against Tulane in the AAC Championship game. The BC run defense is ranked 121st giving up an average of 193.8 rush yards per game. If Jennings does not turn the ball over the Mustangs should win going away.

 

PREDICTION - Fenway Bowl

 

The best thing for Boston College in this game is that it will feel like a home game as it is being played in Boston. Unfortunately for the Eagles, SMU is just too good in all three game phases. Even with a freshman quarterback who is only making his second career start the Mustangs will win big. Give me SMU winning 37-13, covering the spread, and hitting the over, barely, but still over.


Final Score Prediction: SMU 37-Boston College 13

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