– Last Updated on June 8, 2018 7:50 am
2017 Football Preview – ACC – Eagles
Looking for 2017 Boston College Eagles predictions? The Eagles should have plenty of defense to spare in 2017, but head coach Steve Addazio is likely still on the hot seat with a new athletic director coming to Chestnut Hill. The fifth-year head man has a career record of 24-27 at BC and, while he strung together a couple of 7-6 campaigns, the Eagles also limped to a 3-9 season in ’15.
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- 2017-18 College Football Preview – Boston College Eagles
- Head Coach: Steve Addazio
- 2016 Record: 7-6
- Boston College Eagles Odds to win the 2017 FBS Championship: +50000
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The Eagles have predictably been something of a whipping boy in the ACC Atlantic division, where some of the ACC’s elite squads beat Boston College by an average of 44.5 points.
This year, the Eagles will need consistent defending to merge with a much improved offense to have a better showing in the conference, and perhaps to keep Coach Addazio’s job.
As Addazio enters his fifth year at the helm, he finally has a roster comprised entirely of his recruits – hence, whether BC makes strides forward or not will decide Addazio’s fate in Chestnut Hill.
Last season was not without its bright spots for the Eagles, but there has to be more results in 2017 against the elite teams in the ACC. Louisville, Clemson, Florida State and Virginia Tech completely destroyed Boston College in 2016.
The coaching staff doesn’t have to promise the moon, but there has to be some discernible progress against teams that aren’t bottom-dwellers for the program that never got more famous that Doug Flutie’s Hail Mary.
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How many decades ago was that?
2017 Boston College Eagles Predictions: Team Strengths
Pass-Rush Demon: There is one player that fully justifies tuning into football played in the Crimson and Gold this season. It’s DE Harold Landry, who wowed with 22 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks in 2016.
He returns for his senior season and at the least, he will draw double teams and if he doesn’t terrorize opposing QBs, his teammates will have loads of chances.
Landry is an established vet and a Preseason All-American, but he’ll have other upperclassmen joining the effort, such as LB Connor Strachan, who returns after leading the defense with 80 tackles last year.
The secondary also has entrenched CBs with Isaac Yiadom and Kamrin Moore.
With all the attention focused on Landry, the pickings are ripe for mobile OLB Kevin Bletzer and junior DE Zach Allen to exploit mismatches and get some sacks for themselves.
Noah Merritt and Wyatt Ray are also reliable role players who can make names for themselves in Landry’s shadow.
Intriguing ‘I’ Formation Players: Starting RB Jon Hilliman started slow last season as he nursed an injury back, but he stepped up near the end of the campaign and looked great in BC’s bowl game.
Hillman will get most of the touches, but there are other interesting options like sophomore Davon Jones and frosh A.J. Dillon, a four-star recruit from the region that amazingly chose BC over an offer from Michigan.
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Like Hillman a year ago, Dillon will be recovering from an injury sustained in his final year of high school. Collectively, BC’s run attack was the best component of what was undeniably a poor offense in 2016.
Another player to keep an eye on is TE Tommy Sweeney, who possesses the size and tangibles to perhaps become an elite player at his position in the conference. Could he perhaps earn All-ACC?
It’s a possibility is QB Darius Wade or redshirt freshman pivot Anthony Brown can get Sweeney the ball. In addition to a 6’5, 260-lb frame, the junior TE is likely the best pass-catcher on the Eagles.
2017 Boston College Eagles Predictions: Team Weaknesses
Swiss Cheese Offensive Line: In previous years, Steve Addazio was regarded as somewhat of an O-line guru, yet the unit has not developed under him as anticipated.
Even if Wade, last year’s starter under center, is seen as a game manager, it didn’t help that he was constantly under pressure.
The O-line left him vulnerable, couldn’t generate a good push and consequently led to the Eagles finishing a paltry 127th in the nation in total offense.
Yikes. This year’s edition hopes that Marcel Lazard, a graduate transfer from West Virginia, makes a difference as the senior probably steps in straight away at left tackle.
The Eagles still need more from senior OG Jon Baker and junior OT Chris Lindstrom.
Due to an injury to Colton Lichtenberg last season, Mike Knoll handled the kicking in addition to his punting duties, and acquitted himself well going 12-for-14 on his field goals.
Redshirt frosh Grant Carlson could steal the punting job away from Knoll, but he’s shown he has the chops to handle both if the underclassman fails to impress.
Boston College Eagles Prediction: 5-8
Even with the few hints at optimism, Boston College will probably once again struggle to score. Wade is not a great starting QB and the younger Brown, while having a strong arm, is untested.
Those interesting talents at running back can be mitigated if the team’s offensive line is garbage.
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This year the Eagles lead off with a tricky non-conference road game at Northern Illinois, and also have to travel to Clemson (the real ‘Death Valley’ if you ask South Carolinians) and to Louisville. Boston College also get a fun match-up versus Connecticut at Fenway Park on Nov. 18th.
Landry could rip it up once again and even after him, there should be some scintillating defense being played, but it probably won’t be enough for the Eagles to grab any more wins – or for Addazio to keep his job in suburban Boston.
2017 Boston College Eagles Football Schedule
- 9/1/17 TBD at NIU
- 9/9/17 TBD WAKE (FCS)
- 9/16/17 TBD ND
- 9/23/17 TBD at CLEM
- 9/30/17 TBD C. MICH
- 10/7/17 TBD VT
- 10/14/17 TBD at LOU
- 10/21/17 TBD at UVA
- 10/27/17 TBD FSU
- 11/11/17 TBD NC ST
- 11/18/17 TBD UCONN (at Fenway)
- 11/25/17 TBD at SYR
What do you think about our 2017 Boston College Eagles predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in 2017!
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