This upcoming Rutgers-Boston College game is already wild, with the Scarlet Knights listed as 3.5-point underdogs by FanDuel after both teams got absolutely stomped last week. The line opened with the Eagles as 6.5-point favorites, which feels like ages ago considering what happened next.
Rutgers Is Still Reeling After a UMass Disaster
Man, Rutgers got hit hard. They took an embarrassing 37-21 loss to UMass, and it wasn’t pretty. Their defense gave up 197 passing yards and three passing touchdowns, and let UMass’s William Watson, who was seeing his first real playing time in two years after transferring from Virginia Tech, run for 40 yards. On top of that, they surrendered 200 rushing yards and another touchdown. That’s a huge problem.
On offense, it was a mixed bag. Quarterback Dylan Lonergan, a transfer from Boston College, threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns, completing 16 of his 29 passes. But he also tossed three brutal interceptions. Running back Antwan Raymond barely got anything going, averaging just three yards per carry for 42 yards on 14 attempts. They even scored two “meaningless” touchdowns at the end, which is never a good sign. It sounds like they were just trying to make the scoreboard look a little less awful.
Eagles Fumbled Their Way Through a Blowout, Too
Don’t think Boston College is coming into this feeling good, though. They got blown out 34-15 by Cincinnati. QB Mason McKenzie completed 18 of 35 passes for 223 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, finishing with a 108.7 QBR. Running back Evan Dickens led their ground game with 47 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries. Wide receiver Johnathan Montague caught two of three targets for 55 yards and one score.
But man, the turnovers. They racked up more first downs than Cincinnati, which sounds good until you see they turned the ball over on downs three times, lost a fumble, and threw an interception. Their offensive line let McKenzie get sacked four times, and the whole team committed seven penalties. Just like Rutgers, the Eagles scored a last-second touchdown that made the final score seem closer than the game actually was. That’s a gut punch, trying to salvage some pride when you know you just got carved up.
A Special Game for Two Teams That Need a Win
This game is more than just football for Boston College. It’s their annual Red Ribbon game, a massive tradition where they wear special red bandana-patterned uniforms to honor Welles Crowther, a former BC lacrosse player who saved lives on 9/11 while wearing a red bandana. That usually brings one of the best atmospheres in college football. This year, it’s kicking off at 7:30 p.m. on September 11, the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and it’ll be live on ESPN2. You gotta wonder if that emotional energy can lift a team that looked so flat last week. Both teams looked rough, but somebody’s gotta show up for this one. Can either of them clean up the turnovers and penalties? We’re gonna find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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