Let's talk about Boston College

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Against Florida State the Hokies played their hearts out. However, getting up for a big game in Lane hasn't been Tech's problem. Amping up for noon(-ish) kickoffs, in half empty stadiums, against average to poor teams, on the road, has been. Those conditions are exactly what Tech will encounter in Chestnut Hill.

Boston College is a terrible team. They have just two wins, a blowout against Maine, and 3 point squeaker versus Maryland (in that game the Terps started their former fourth-string quarterback). They rank 95th in total offense, 104th in scoring offense, 107th in total defense, and 77th in scoring defense. Opponents average 81.8 plays against BC. And, they lost to Army. None of that matters though, because as we saw at Miami and at Pitt, Tech has a habit of losing to bad teams on the road.

The Eagles do have some playmakers though. Chase Rettig is having a solid junior season (57% completions, 2,813 yards, 16 TDs, 9 INTs), and he's third among ACC QBs in yards per game.

Wide receiver Alex Amidon is having a spectacular season. He leads the ACC and ranks fourth nationally in receiving yards per game (115.7), and is 10th among all receivers with an average of 7.3 receptions per game.

Linebacker Nick Clancy leads BC in tackles (107), and is one of their better defenders. He suffered a concussion against Notre Dame, sat out the first two practices this week, but was cleared Wednesday.

An experienced offensive line was supposed to be a strength coming into the season. Prior to 2012, the unit combined for 54 starts, and other than against Notre Dame, the same group of 5 have started every game this season. (Right guard Ian White was injured.) Under first year coach Jim Bollman, who was previously at Ohio State, BC's given up 26.0 sacks (T-93 nationally), and they average just 72.50 rushing yards a game (118th nationally). To put it mildly, Ohio State fans were happy as hell to get rid of him. Here's a great stat from Buckeye fanatic @ramzy, "BC returned its whole OL & is 118th in rushing now. Ohio State replaced 3/5 OL its tailback & Bollman and is 110 spots higher."

On paper, this is a game Tech should win comfortably. The defensive line should be able to set up shop in BC's backfield, and as long as the secondary doesn't allow Alex Amidon behind them, they'll force punts. If the offense plays its best, and/or most hungry players, and limits mistakes, they will be able to put points on the board. As Bill Maloney said in Brian's Q&A, all Tech really needs is 20 points.

Beamer Co. made some depth chart changes. Some moves were because of lack of effort, others because of matchups.

Beamer's website updated the depth chart late Tuesday, putting Corey Fuller and Demitri Knowles in the starting receiver spots over seniors Marcus Davis and Dyrell Roberts. "It's a production driven business, so, you better produce," wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman told the site. "You just turn the film on. It's no secret. ... Nobody gets blindsided around here."

Foster said he went with Alonzo Tweedy at whip linebacker last week because of what he brings to all the different blitz packages the Hokies were planning. "And I just felt better about his ability to do that more than Ronny [Vandyke's]," he said. "Ronny is a little more robotic right now, where Tweedy is a little more fluid from that standpoint." Foster thinks Tweedy can continue to be a factor going forward. The senior was working with the first team near the end of practice Tuesday (although Vandyke was listed ahead of Tweedy on the depth chart on Beamer's website). "I'm pulling for the guy," Foster said. "I always have. And so I'm hoping he can be an impact for us the next couple ballgames."

Boston College will be motivated by senior day, and Tech still needs two wins to keep its bowl streak intact. I care more about the extra practices granted from making a bowl, than I do the actual game, or streak. Win out, and Tech can simultaneously send the seniors out with a bowl win, and prepare for Alabama.

If the Hokies look for a fight, they'll win. However, they're not a good enough team sleepwalk into Alumni Stadium and leave unblemished.

Leave your thoughts on the game below.

Comments

BC is always tough

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Virginia Tech, the only school that actually eats its own mascot <3

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

Momentum

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UVA: Jefferson's biggest mistake

@pbowman6

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

Confident

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"I oughta punch a UVA fan right in the neck" -Colin Cowherd

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Best duos in Hokie history: Hall & Adibi, 3rd & Tyrod, Georgia & Liz

Game in Northern Virginia

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Has a man open...caught! Danny Coale!

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Five star get after it 100 percent Juice Key-Playing. MAN

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"We were at the pinnacle, and we did it for years," Foster says. He pauses, nods, takes a deep breath. "And I did it with the best guy in the business."

Xfinity

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UVA: Jefferson's biggest mistake

@pbowman6

Get on twitter now

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"We were at the pinnacle, and we did it for years," Foster says. He pauses, nods, takes a deep breath. "And I did it with the best guy in the business."

So we're retiring the old school VT, then wear this??

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"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster

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"That kid you're talking to right there, I think he played his nuts off! And you can quote me on that shit!" -Bud Foster