Written by Tyler Pastorius
Dallas, Texas will host the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl between Boston College and Boise State on December 26th. This will be both teams first appearance in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl but not the first time these schools face off in a bowl matchup. The previous bowl matchup was in 2005 in the MPC Computers Bowl where Boston College won 27-21 over Boise State. However, this matchup may be different seeing as Boise State is the nationally ranked team in the No. 25 spot.
Boston Colleges program is one that will be making its 27th bowl appearance, has produced some products into the NFL, but has never really made that next leap of being in contention for a national title. For the program this year, it is no different. The team sits with a 7-5 record, allowing 25 points per game, and suffered some big losses this year statistically. Sophomore QB Anthony Brown got injured against Clemson this year and has had some rough games down the stretch for the Eagles and this isn’t something you want to hear heading into a bowl game. Even on the rushing side of things, Sophomore tailback AJ Dillon barely eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, so this is an offense overall that needs to find some things to click together with the three weeks of practice that they have heading into this game. With the lack of big-play potential, it is going to be hard to go against a Boise State defense that seemed like they can crunch down on its opposition.
For the Boise State Broncos, they enter the game with a 10-3 record and have a QB that owns the conference record for total passing yards (13,456), finished the regular season ranked No. 8 in touchdown passes, and No. 9 in passing yards in Senior Brett Rypien. Immediately the record and ability to throw the ball (against a defense that allows roughly 250 passing yards per game) stands out. But even though the Broncos have an offense that can break down Boston Colleges defense, the Boise State Broncos don’t have the best defense as well. Granted they can crunch down at times, they have also given up an average of 22 points per game.
This game ultimately is going to come down to who makes fewer mistakes. Even though the records are pretty split for a bowl matchup, this game is a toss-up. But looking at it statistically and with the product that has been on the field, there is a slight favor toward the No. 25 Boise State Broncos. Being nationally ranked does mean something so being in a bowl game against a team that isn’t ranked should help play into the favor of that school but like I said this matchup comes down to who limits their mistakes. Even looking at the game from a betting side the, the spread is only by 3 points in favor of Boise State, so this game truly is 50/50.
Who do you see taking home the win in Dallas?
