BC Looks to End Two-Game Skid on Senior Night vs Miami

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On Friday afternoon, the Boston College Eagles (6-5, 3-4) will wrap up the 2023 season with their Senior Day home game vs the Miami Hurricanes (6-5, 2-5) at Alumni Stadium. This is a series that goes back to the days when these two teams played each other in the Big East. It has been a series that has been somewhat one-sided in Miami’s favor. The two teams have not played one another since 2018, with the Eagles winning 27-14. Overall, Miami has the edge in this matchup with a record of 24-6 and they are 9-4 in Chestnut Hill. Both teams arrived into this game looking for that seventh overall win.

For Boston College, a seventh win would give them their first seven-win season since 2018. It would give them four conference wins for the first time since 2020. That is also the same year the Eagles last won four home games. A win in their season finale on Friday would be their first since 2017. There is a lot to play for if you are Boston College. Not to mention stopping a two-game conference losing streak with a bowl game in sight. The Eagles defense has sprung a bit of a leak over the last two games giving up over 1,000 yards of total offense to both Virginia Tech (600 yards) and Pittsburgh (404 yards). That unit will be tested by the Hurricanes offense led by QB Tyler Van Dyke. It is also a team trying to stop a skid as Miami will bring a three-game losing streak into Friday’s season-ending contest.

Miami ranks in the top-35 in both offense and defense. On the offensive side, the Hurricanes are #32 averaging 432.9 yards a game. Van Dyke has had a good fall for Miami. He will be making his 28th start in his career and he has thrown for 2,413 yards with a passing efficiency of 145.0 this season. His favorite target is WR Xavier Restrepo who last week in the loss to Louisville had eight catches for 193 yards and a score. It was his fourth 100-yard receiving game of the year. He is the team-leading pass catcher with 68 receptions for 876 yards. Their placekicker Andres Borregales is fifth among all active players with a 1.54 career field goals made per game average. On defense, the Hurricanes ranked 28th in FBS. They allowed 326.8 yards per game. They are 44th in scoring defense at 22.3 PPG, they ranked eighth in the nation in sacks per game with three. They are 13th overall in tackles for loss per game with 7.3. Miami safety Kamren Kinchens is tied for the league lead in interceptions with five. That is also tied for second in all of FBS.

The run game has been the weapon that the Eagles have used to make this season a good one. They are second in the conference and 17th overall in rushing averaging 198.1 yards a game. Their QB Thomas Castellanos is second in the country for most rushing yards with 827, a thousand-yard year is still on the table. He is 45th among all rushers this season. He has 10 rushing touchdowns which is tied for 30th in all of FBS. It is the sixth-most by a quarterback this year. The ground game got a boost last week with the return of RB Kyle Robichaux who had 118 yards on 24 carriers, his third 100-yard game this year. This rushing attack will be tested by a Miami rushing defense that is ninth overall allowing only 92.9 yards a game. A passing attack will be needed for BC. WR Lewis Bond may be the weapon the Eagles need to open up the running game. He has 42 catches for 565 yards and six touchdowns. He is the ninth Eagles wide receiver since 1996 to have a 40/500/6 season.

Senior day is always an emotional day. The Eagles are hoping to use that emotion to get them a victory over Miami.