Luke Kuechly and the Boston College Eagles host the UMass Minutemen in search of their first win on Saturday afternoon in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Event: Boston College Eagles vs. Massachusetts Minutemen - NCAA Football, Week 4.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 24, 2011 - 1:00 p.m. EDT.
Location: Alumni Stadium (Capacity: 44,500), Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
Broadcast Info: Saturday's game between Boston College and UMass will be broadcast live online on ESPN3, with Dave Weekley on play-by-play duty and Rene Ingoglia providing analysis.
The game can also be heard on the WEEI Sports Radio Network, with Jon Meterparel providing play-by-play, Pete Cronan providing analysis and former BC quarterback Brian St. Pierre on the sidelines. The game can be heard on 680 AM WRKO.
Series History: Boston College leads the all-time series against UMass, 18-5. The Eagles have won their last six meetings against UMass dating back to 1978. BC bested UMass, 24-14, in their last meeting back in 2007 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill.
Last Week: Boston College lost to the Duke Blue Devils in heartbreaking fashion, falling 20-19 in its ACC opener after kicker Nate Freese missed an extra point in the second quarter and then missed a 23-yard field goal with less than one minute left, handing the Blue Devils the win. Chase Rettig threw for 247 yards and one touchdown in the loss and Andre Williams rushed for 56 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries.
As for UMass, it topped Rhode Island, 36-27, after trailing 21-16 entering the fourth quarter. Kellen Pagel threw for 249 yards and a touchdown while tossing two picks in the victory. Julian Talley recorded eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Storyline: There may not be a team more desperate for a win than Boston College. After losing its first three games, including a game against ACC foe Duke, the Eagles need a win to put their season back on track. Chase Rettig and Luke Kuechly look to lead the charge on offense and defense, respectively. Montel Harris, the star back for BC, may make his season debut for the Eagles, and that would go a long way towards giving the Eagles win No. 1 of 2011.
On the other sideline, UMass is also eager for a win. An FCS program that's making the jump to the FBS level next season would absolutely love to beat a current FBS team - even if they are down and out - to show that they are a serious opponent and a tough program. Expect for Kevin Morris and the Minutemen to put up a good fight.
Players To Watch: For UMass, keep an eye on Jonathan Hernandez - the standout senior running back who carved up Holy Cross and Rhode Island in the first two games of the season for UMass. Hernandez's bread-and-butter is the outside run, and once he breaks free, he can be dangerous.
Luke Kuechly will have the task of stopping Hernandez, a task that he is certainly up for. Kuechly has proven himself to be one of the best - if not the best - linebackers in the country, and stopping a back like Hernandez, who is good but is still an FCS-leve talent, should be relatively simple.
Prediction: There's no more time left for BC to falter. Fortunately, they are facing a team that is a level lower than they are. This time around, expect the Eagles to claim victory, albeit a close one. Final Score: BC 28, UMass 21.
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