2005-06 Football Predictions

@CMU - 38-9 W
I see this one being fairly close through the first half, probably a one-score game at halftime, but BC pulls away in the second. CMU will put up a tough fight early on but BC is simply too talented and that will show through.

Clemson - 24-17 W
I'm not as worried about this one as a lot of people are. Clemson is going to be an excellent team this year but Whitehurst was a huge part of their offense and while I'm hearing good things about Proctor he'll still be getting in synch with the offense this early in the year. Home opener and arguably the biggest game of the year, the crowd will be juiced for this one. Close game but Matty Ice leads a scoring drive to take the lead and the game is iced with a Jamie Silva interception.

BYU - 30-21 W
I'll admit I don't know much about BYU's team this year especially after only seeing them play once last year (vs. ND, I was tailgating at a soccer game in Ohio the day of the BC-BYU game) but based on what I've heard and what I know about BYU football in general they have an excellent aerial attack but a suspect defense. Like the first 2 games, I see this being close for much of the game with the Eagles pulling away at the end.

@NCSU - 27-16 W
I'm not convinced by NCSU. They don't seem to have improved their offense much and their defense was killed by the draft. BC wins fairly comfortably.

Maine - 45-6 W
Maine has been somewhat of a giant killer in recent years, going down south and beating Mississippi State (any BCS conference team aside from Duke is considered a "giant" against a D1AA team) 2 years ago and then giving Nebraska a serious scare in Lincoln last year. That won't happen to BC. Why?? Because this is parent's weekend, ie the biggest game of the year for Gene DeFillippo. An impressive win here keeps the sheep contended and keeps the donations rolling in from the folks whose busy fall Saturday tee times only allow them to watch 2-3 games a year (parent's weekend, the bowl game, and ND if we play them). You know that GDF will lean on TOB to scrounge up every power of motivation that he has, and the boys will be ready for this one.

Va Tech - 17-13 W
BC will win this one and get our hopes up. VT looks to have a down year and Beamer needs to prove that he can keep the program at an elite level even without any more Vicks. I actually don't see VT remaining an elite program long-term; they'll still be good, but not at the level they've been for the last 8 years or so. My bet is that long-term they drop back to ACC's 2nd tier along with BC, Clemson, NC State, and Georgia Tech; and it starts here. The Hokies still have a good defense but, in what will become an annual BC-VT Thursday night tradition, drop this one.

@FSU - 35-20 L
...And we come crashing back to Earth. BC CAN win this one, but Matty Ice and the boys will have to do it in spite of TOB's scared playcalling. Our best chance is to pound it out on the ground, hold onto the ball, turn it into a defensive struggle and get some key turnovers. We're definitely capable of pulling out the "W" but under TOB's "guidance" I don't see it happening unfortunately.

Buffalo - 52-0 W
Buffalo is fucking terrible.

@Wake - 28-27 W
It seems that most of the top-level ACC teams have one lower-to-mid-level team that always gives them trouble, often beating them and always giving them a good scare. Miami has UNC (1-1 in ACC play and they were lucky to win last year), FSU has NC State (3-3 since 2000), and we have Wake. I think they're going to give us problems most years, it's just one of those things. Luckily I don't see them upsetting us this year, even in Winston-Salem. Losing Chris Barclay won't hurt the Deacs as much as a lot of people think it will, as he was more a product of their system; nonetheless, the Eagles will have an answer for most of what Wake throws at them. It'll be tough, but a last-minute defensive stand will pull out the victory.

Duke - 38-3 W
Duke is fucking terrible.

Maryland - 26-24 L
TOB special. With FSU's ACC slate completed at 5-3 (L's to Miami, Clemson, NC State) and Clemson likewise finished at 6-2, a win here brings the Eagles to 6-1 and, based on the tiebreaker over the Tigers, clinches the Atlantic title and a spot in the ACC Championship game.....what do you think is going to happen?? It won't be as bad as Syracuse, but it'll be just as heartbreaking. On BC's Senior Day, the Terps come into town and steal the show, winning the Battle of I-95 and provoking "we are what we are" damage control from TOB. Much rejoicing in Tidewater country as BC now needs to go into the Orange Bowl and beat Miami in order to force a rematch with the 'Canes in Jacksonville.

@Miami - 35-17 L
Another TOB special. BC storms out to an early 14-0 lead before retreating into its shell. Down 21-14 with 5 seconds left in the first half and the ball on Miami's 2-inch line and BC's O-line kicking the 'Canes up and down the field, TOB elects to kick the field goal. BC doesn't even come close to scoring in the 2nd half and Miami runs away with it. To rub salt in the wound, Clemson beats Miami in the ACC Championship game.

Purdue - 31-21 W (Music City Bowl)
Another year, another crappy bowl win over a mediocre opponent. Hooray.


FINAL RECORD: 10-3

Welcome to Tom O'Brien's BC Eagles--motto, "Ever to be Perpetually Mediocre".