Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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GAME PREVIEW: BOSTON COLLEGE big games against Michigan State and Oklahoma. Junior wide receiver TJ Jones leads the team with 26 son wide receiver Sammy Watkins for 200 yards, but otherwise has held its own in the passing game for much of the year. Three of the team's defensive backs have multiple interceptions. Fifth-year senior middle linebacker Nick Clancy, Keuchly's replacement, had a noteworthy seven passes broken up in his first eight games. catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns. Seniors Tyler Eifert and Theo Riddick allow Notre Dame's passing game to attack multiple parts of the field. They had 22 and 21 receptions, respectively, entering November. Boston College was torched two weeks ago by Clem- Advantage: Notre Dame SPECIAL TEAMS in the return game. Sophomore Spiffy Evans picked up 202 yards on his five punt returns through eight games. Eighty-two of them came on a touchdown against Maine. He is one of three returners that gave Boston College the best punt return average, 29.43 yards a runback, in the country as of Nov. 1. Redshirt junior Nate Freese's only miss on a kick this season was a 52-yard attempt against Georgia Tech. The Eagles best chance for a big play is probably Nov. 24 at North Carolina State Oct. 13 at Florida State (ESPN2) Oct. 20 at Georgia Tech (RSN) Oct. 27 Maryland (ESPN3) Nov. 3 at Wake Forest Nov. 10 Notre Dame (ABC) Nov. 17 Virginia Tech Sept. 15 at Northwestern (BTN) Sept. 29 Clemson (ESPN2) Oct. 6 at Army (CBSSN) Date Opponent (TV) Result/Time (ET) Sept. 1 Miami (ABC/ESPN) Sept. 8 Maine (ESPN3) 2012 BOSTON COLLEGE SCHEDULE L, 37-17 W, 20-17 L, 28-14 8 p.m. TBA TBA L, 41-32 W, 34-3 L, 22-13 L, 45-31 L, 34-31 L, 51-7 He is otherwise 12 of 13 on field goals, although he has not made one longer than 39 yards. Notre Dame kicker Kyle Brindza has made three longer than that, but he is only 14 of 19 in his first year kicking field goals. Brindza has been able to make the ones that count most. He hit an important kick late in a win over Oklahoma, a game winner against Purdue and a game-tying attempt against Stanford. Advantage: Boston College COACHING cess as a defensive coordinator earlier in his career, but he has not been able to convert that to the head job. With a new athletic director in office in Chestnut Hill, Spaziani's days appear to be numbered in Boston. has been iced by a strong start from Kelly and his staff, especially his group of Iowa imports (Diaco, safeties coach Bob Elliott and cornerbacks coach Kerry Cooks) who are jelling well on defense. Eagles head coach Frank Spaziani had a lot of suc- Any heat on the head coaching seat at Notre Dame Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES during wins over then-No. 10 Michigan State and then-No. 8 Oklahoma than it has in big games at home this season. Alumni Stadium and its 44,500- seat capacity will be far less intimidating than either of those venues. The Eagles enter this game without bowl hopes Notre Dame looked more comfortable on the road and likely with a lame duck coaching staff. But Boston College has spoiled promising Notre Dame seasons in the past. They are playing with nothing to lose and will give the Irish their best shot. Advantage: Boston College PREDICTIONS Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 28, Boston College 10 Jason Sapp: Notre Dame 49, Boston College 6 Wes Morgan: Notre Dame 50, Boston College 10 Dan Murphy: Notre Dame 44, Boston College 13