Boston College vs NC State Odds & Predictions: Morehead to Lead Eagles
Maddie Malhotra/Getty Images. Pictured: Boston College quarterback Emmett Morehead.
Boston College vs NC State Odds
| Boston College Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+18.5 -118 | 40.5 -118o / -104u | +890 |
| NC State Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-18.5 -104 | 40.5 -118o / -104u | -1700 |
Just when all hope for NC State's season was lost, the Wolfpack rallied around their new leader to help revive their aspirations.
NC State's victory over Wake Forest last week was monumental, as it vaulted the Wolfpack to the No. 16 spot in the most recent College Football Playoff rankings.
As for the Eagles, it's been a rough campaign. They enter this matchup on a four-game losing streak, and it may continue depending on whether or not their starting quarterback plays.
Despite the gloomy outlook for this matchup, the market seems to think all is not lost for Boston College here. Let's dig in and see if their belief will pay off.
Boston College Eagles
When it comes to the Eagles, it starts and ends with quarterback Phil Jurkovec. The senior is the leader of this team, and his experience and skill drastically change this Boston College offense.
However, with Jurkovec missing last week's game due to a knee injury, many are clamoring for the coaching staff to make a change in an effort to see what they have for the future.
In steps redshirt freshman Emmett Morehead. Morehead had a tremendous game against Duke, torching the Blue Devils for 330 yards and four touchdowns. However, BC lost that game. While he impressed last week, neither he nor Jukovec will have substantial success this week.
NC State is still a top team because its defense has played at an elite level this year. Its metrics are very impressive, ranking 10th in Passing Success Rate Allowed and 15th in Rushing Success Rate.
Those types of numbers keep teams off the board, as the Wolfpack has allowed just 19.6 points per game.
NC State Wolfpack
The Wolfpack can relate to the Eagles offensively, as they've lost their starting quarterback for the season and have turned to a freshman of their own. True freshman MJ Morris has led NC State to two victories in his first two career starts.
You have to be impressed with Morris, as he's thrown six touchdowns without an interception and is averaging 8.3 yards per completion.
He has rejuvenated this offense, as incumbent starter Devin Leary was unable to generate explosiveness with the downfield passing game. But Morris has made them much more dynamic.
Not to mention, he can run too. Morris carried the ball 19 times for 43 yards against Wake Forest. So, not only is he improving the passing game, but he can help a poor rushing offense that averages just 3.2 yards per carry.
On top of all this, he and the Wolfpack have a good matchup through the air. Boston College enters 116th in coverage rating, per PFF.
That has resulted in the opposition completing passes for an average of 7.3 yards, which is good for 69th in the country. So, we may see the best game yet out of the true freshman.
Boston College vs NC State Matchup Analysis
Toggle the dropdowns below to hide or show how Boston College and NC State match up statistically:
Boston College Offense vs. NC State Defense
 | Offense | Defense |  Edge |
| Rush Success | 122 | 15 | |
| Line Yards | 130 | 5 | |
| Pass Success | 112 | 10 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 90 | 66 | |
| Havoc | 128 | 12 | |
| Finishing Drives | 96 | 27 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
NC State Offense vs. Boston College Defense
| Offense | Defense | Edge |
| Rush Success | 63 | 37 | |
| Line Yards | 79 | 18 | |
| Pass Success | 80 | 68 | |
| Pass Blocking** | 72 | 91 | |
| Havoc | 47 | 57 | |
| Finishing Drives | 89 | 115 | |
| ** Pass Blocking (Off.) vs. Pass Rush (Def.) | |||
The pace of Play / Other
| | |
| PFF Tackling | 68 | 79 |
| PFF Coverage | 116 | 28 |
| SP+ Special Teams | 121 | 14 |
| Seconds per Play | 26.3 (60) | 27.8 (98) |
| Rush Rate | 44.7% (114) | 50.6% (82) |
Data via CollegeFootballData.com (CFBD), FootballOutsiders, SP+, Pro Football Focus, and SportSource Analytics.
Boston College vs NC State Betting Pick
What would have been a battle between two of the most experienced quarterbacks in the ACC has turned into one between two of the most inexperienced quarterbacks.
This battle of promising freshmen is an interesting game to watch, as both staff and fan bases will get a good look at what they have and who they'll be up against for the foreseeable future.
While we went over each team from an offensive standpoint, the unit with the most significant edge in this matchup is NC State's defense. It's been top-tier all year long and will be a true test for Morehead. However, he's coming off his best game yet and has plenty of room to grow here.
In a game that will be defined by inexperience and one excellent defense, it will not be a blowout. So, back Morehead and the Eagles to hang around here.
Pick: Boston College +19 |
How would you rate this article?
Follow Us On Social
