Boston College (winner)
Return to menuThe Eagles have won five in a row for the first time since 2010 thanks to Friday’s 17-10 road defeat of Syracuse, and they are bowl eligible after what seemed like an unpromising start.
Arguably the most impressive thing Boston College (6-3, 3-2 ACC) did in its first four games was rally to make things surprisingly interesting against Florida State. Besides that, there was a loss to Northern Illinois (yuck), an escape by a field goal against Holy Cross and a 28-point drubbing at Louisville.
Since then, the Eagles have perfected the art of winning close games. They took down Virginia and Army by a field goal. They turned a six-point hole entering the fourth quarter into a 38-23 defeat of Georgia Tech. And now Boston College has outlasted Connecticut and Syracuse in a pair of games low on flash.
The development of quarterback Thomas Castellanos through experiences good and bad has helped. A consistently solid defense has helped, too. And a bit like another ACC team that looked awful early in the season but steadily got better — Virginia Tech — the Eagles actually have a shot at reaching the ACC title game if they win out and get some help.
Is it the most likely outcome? Probably not. But like everything else positive about the Eagles, it’s far more plausible than anyone would have guessed in late September.
