Can the party keep on rolling?
On Saturday afternoon, the Boston College football team will end the 2024 regular season when they host Pitt at Alumni Stadium. BC has found new life late in the season, as new starting quarterback Grayson James has led them to wins over Syracuse on UNC, and a close upset bid against #9 SMU. Now all that stands in their way of a seventh win this season are the Pittsburgh Panthers, who are in the midst of a 4-game losing streak.
Who: Boston College Eagles (6-5) vs Pittsburgh Panthers (7-4)
Where: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, MA
When: Saturday November 30th, 2024
Kickoff Time: 3pm ET
How to Watch: This game will be broadcast live on the CW and streamed online here
Our staff has spent this week compiling some great content to preview this match-up. Take a look:
Boston College vs Pittsburgh: Panthers Team Preview
Pitt vs. Boston College Football: Betting Preview & Prediction
2024 Bowl Projections: Where Could Boston College Football Go Bowling?
What to Watch For
- Get after Nate Yarnell, if he plays. Pitt’s starting quarterback Eli Holstein was carted off last week in a blowout loss to Louisville and his injury status is up in the air for Saturday. If he’s out, our old friend Nate Yarnell will be back under center for the Panthers. Yarnell led his team to a 24-16 victory over Boston College last season, but that was before Donovan Ezeiruaku and the BC DL was rejuvenated by this new coaching staff. If the Eagles can generate pressure against a rusty Yarnell or even an injured Holstein, they will have a very good shot at victory.
- Dink and dunk Pitt into oblivion. Pitt’s defense is their strongest unit, and they rely heavily on run defense and sacks to win games. BC’s path to success will be if Grayson James can air the ball out to Lewis Bond and his other receivers for short, consistent gains. BC will not win if they are sending Kye Robichaux headfirst into a stacked box every first down or if they are leaving James out there in a vulnerable pocket for longer throws.
- Contain Desmond Reid. Just like BC contained Omarion Hampton against UNC last week, they will need to defend the dynamic ability of Pitt runningback Desmond Reid. Reid is fifth in the nation in all-purpose yards and can shred a defense on basically every level. If he gets going and BC’s thin secondary starts to thin out even more, it would be a disaster for a unit that has been playing above its capabilities for weeks now.
Prediction: Boston College 31 Pittsburgh 20
These two teams are headed in completely opposite directions. The revitalized BC passing offense has been a problem for their opponents to defend, and that’s one of Pitt’s bigger weaknesses. With a question mark at QB and a 4-game monkey on their back, it seems unlikely that the Panthers will find their mojo in late November in Chestnut Hill against a rolling Boston College squad. Roll Eags!