Sweet Caroline….. bah bah bah!
Just three days after Christmas, Boston College football will take the field for one last time in 2023 to face off against the #24 SMU Mustangs in the 2023 Wasabi Fenway Bowl! It’s BC’s first-ever appearance in the Fenway Bowl, which began just a few years ago, and it marks just their third time returning to the historic ballpark since the Eagles called it home in the 1950s (and for many years before then).
Who: Boston College Eagles (6-6) vs Southern Methodist University Mustangs (11-2)
Where: Fenway Park, Boston, MA
When: Thursday December 28th
Kickoff Time: 11am ET
How to Watch: This game will be broadcasted live on ESPN
Although this is a de facto home game for Boston College, they certainly won’t be favored. After losing two out-of-conference games early in the season to Oklahoma and TCU, SMU has run the table, winning nine regular season games straight and then capped it off with a big win over #17 Tulane to claim the 2023 AAC Championship. It’s the final year for SMU in the AAC before they join Boston College in the ACC, and they went out with a bang.
Boston College, on the other hand, ended their regular season on a losing streak. After making their way to a 6-3 record against one of the easiest schedules in the nation, BC dropped three straight games against Virginia Tech, Pitt, and Miami to fall to 6-6. They have one of the least impressive resumes in the nation for a bowl team, but nonetheless they will the city of Boston and the history of Fenway Park on their side as they try to end the season on a better note.
Our staff has compiled some great content to preview this match-up. Take a look:
Opponent Preview: SMU Offense and Defense
Boston College Football’s Storied History of Playing at Fenway Park
What to Watch For
- Can BC fill their transfer holes? The Eagles have lost a few key players to the transfer portal early and won’t see them in action at Fenway. Their running back depth is basically gone outside of Robichaux and Broome, while the defense has lost key pieces in Shitta Sillah, CJ Clinkscales, and of course Elijah Jones, who declared for the NFL draft and hasn’t played in weeks.
- Pressure Kevin Jennings. SMU’s QB situation took a hit when starter Preston Stone went down with a broken leg in the regular season finale. Kevin Jennings stepped up to finish that game and led the Mustangs to a win in the AAC Championship Game, but his performance could’ve been better. To slow down the SMU offense, BC will need to make Jennings feel uncomfortable in the pocket on this cold December morning in Boston.
- Protect Thomas Castellanos and don’t turn the ball over. SMU’s pass rush is no joke and their defense is stout. BC would be well-advised to dink-and-dunk their way to victory with outside running and quick, short passes. Trying to push the ball downfield with Castellanos’s arm on a cold day will likely lead to plenty of sacks and turnovers for a defense that leads the nation in defensive touchdowns and is 2nd in sacks.
Tailgate Treat of the Week
I have to go with possibly the most Boston meal possible. Everybody at the game should grab a Fenway Frank and a Sam Adams. It’s a basically a tradition for me whenever I go to a Red Sox game, and it won’t be any different when I’m in the stands for this one. Hope to see you there!
Prediction: SMU 31 Boston College 14
Unfortunately, BC drew a really tough opponent for this game. SMU doesn’t want to be here and Boston College would like to face someone closer to their level. I don’t think this result will be quite as bad as the Birmingham Bowl in 2019 (was anybody else at that game?), but it will reflect a similar outcome: an impressive AAC team left out of a marquee bowl beating up on poor Boston College. Here’s to hoping I’m wrong!