Boston College is back in the win column after a close football game against the Michigan State Spartans. Now, BC takes on the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in what appears to be a very winnable game for the Eagles.
The line for this game opened at -11 in favor of BC and has shifted to -13. BC has not lost yet when favorited, and only failed to beat the spread last week. Western Kentucky has won three in a row and have a good offense but failed to move the ball entirely against Alabama in week 1. The rest of their opponents have not been much to write home about. Still, the Hilltoppers should not be taken lightly and have a very solid team.
Boston College vs. Western Kentucky Football History
BC and Western Kentucky have never played against each other.
In their inaugural matchup Head Coach Bill O’Brien addressed the quality of the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers noting that “[They are] a very, very good football team, and it’s going to be a very tough game for us.”
On the other hand he also stated that “[I]f there’s a letdown, then then shame on us. Absolute shame on us if there’s a letdown, absolute shame on Boston College football. We need to show up and be ready to play, noon kickoff, put the tape on.”
As for Western Kentucky, this is a chance to show that their program belongs amongst the better teams in the country. Coach Tyson Helton is excited for the chance stating that “It’s gonna be a great atmosphere, I’ve heard a lot of great things about playing up there. They got a really good football team, Coach O’Brien’s done a great job with that team… just excited for the opportunity.”
Key Players for Boston College
Lewis Bond – Wide Receiver
Boston College seems to have figured out who their top receiving weapon is. After an ice cold start in Week 1 for the pass catchers, Lewis Bond has separated himself from the pack. Bond leads the team in receiving yards by a wide margin, showcasing impressive chemistry with quarterback Thomas Castellanos.
Without Bond, the Eagles would not have won last week. He had six receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown, resulting in him being named ACC receiver player of the week. The touchdown was a huge 42-yard catch with less than two minutes left in the fourth quarter, winning the game for them.
Bond will look to continue his success against a weaker Hilltoppers secondary than he faced last week. It’s hard to argue that a BC has relied on any player more in recent weeks, and Bond should be relied on early in this one again.
Donovan Ezeiruaku – Defensive End
Donovan Ezeiruaku has been on absolute tear recently. He already has five sacks across four games against FBS opponents. Ezeiruaku has also added 19 total tackles as he tries to will this BC defense over the top, providing a spark that was missing last year. The motor for this team, Ezeiruaku will look to add to his sack totals this week and disrupt an explosive passing offense. BC will be relying on him to bring the pressure in order to avoid an upset.
ACC Top Sack Leaders Thru Week 4️⃣:
1️⃣ Antwaun Powell-Ryland (VT) – 5.5
2️⃣ Jahvaree Ritzie (UNC) – 5
3️⃣ Tyler Baron (MIA) – 4.5
4️⃣ Patrick Payton (FSU) – 4
5️⃣ Donovan Ezeiruaka (BC) – 4 📷Ezeiruaka has 13 total pressures this season to go along with 7️⃣ run stops ✋️. He has… pic.twitter.com/uzJ2NkvZOb
— 💰 Nino💲Brown 💸 (@__NinoBrown__) September 24, 2024
Tommy Castellanos – Quarterback
The offense always runs through Tommy Castellanos. Through these first four weeks, Castellanos looks like the real deal, bringing forth comparisons to Kyler Murray. Castellanos has many of the same traits making a “Baby Kyler” comp look good, with his inconsistency needing to improve. He managed to pull out a miracle win last week but this week he should dominate.
The biggest question around him right now is where is the rushing? After a Week 1 game saw him rush for 73 yards and a touchdown, Castellanos does not have over 16 rushing yards in a game. Even taking into account sack yards, the numbers are low.
While his vast improvements as a passer are evident early in the season, rushing was such a crucial part of his offensive skill set. Teams have focused on slowing him down in that department, but Castellanos needs to bring that aspect of his game out to push elite defenses. This is no elite defense, but it might be a get right game for Castellanos with his run game.
Key Players for Western Kentucky
Devonte’ Mathews – Defensive Back
Devonte’ Mathews has been red hot to start the year for the Hilltoppers. In their first four games he’s managed to lead the team in stops with 20, while also leading in interceptions (2) and adding a fumble recovery for good measure.
Against a superior team, a game changer like Mathews can turn the momentum on its head. While Castellanos has not made many mistakes this year, he is historically prone to turnovers. If Mathews can take advantage of those errors Western Kentucky will have a good building block for upsetting the Eagles.
Kisean Johnson – Wide Receiver
After losing the core of this offense in Malachi Corley to the NFL Draft, Kisean Johnson has filled the shoes perfectly. After getting locked up by Alabama, Johnson has turned on the jets, registering six or more receptions in the last three games for over 100 yards or a touchdown in all three. Johnson has seized the WR1 role on this team and does not look like he plans to let go.
BC is a very tough defense, and Johnson needs to prove these last few weeks haven’t been a fluke. If Johnson has a good game, the Hilltoppers might be able to keep up. If he does not, it is hard to see how Western Kentucky keeps this game close.
How Boston College Wins This Football Game
Boston College should win this football game. Western Kentucky is an inferior opponent to Michigan State, and less equipped to handle the offense BC runs. As long as BC plays consistent on offense and disciplined defense, they will win. If they allow Western Kentucky to keep pace on offense, though, there is a definite chance they lose this game.
Ultimately, this is a very winnable game. Boston College can likely afford a few mistakes and still come away with a win. Any given Saturday anything can happen though, and Western Kentucky is a capable team here to try and make a statement. Boston College can’t let that happen.
Spencer Buckley
Hi Everyone! I'm happy you read this far to see my bio. I am a full time football and baseball enthusiast who would have "100% made the show if I didn't get injured...". Also do some Lawyer stuff in my free time.