<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4JwZFf_0vj4i7J600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4JwZFf_0vj4i7J600" width="1210" height="806" ></figure>Week Four saw my first 0-2 column of the season as BC did not cover the spread and the Over did not hit. Let me just say, however, that I will happily go winless for the rest of the season if it produces any more games like BC’s Red Bandana win over Michigan State. With the team already moved on to Western Kentucky, though, we will do the same.WKU rolls into Chestnut Hill at 3-1 looking for an upset. As of now, the spread stands at BC -12.5 and the O/U at 55.5. Offensively, WKU is a pass-heavy team. They are averaging 290.4 air yards per game, good for 20th in the country. Now, some of this is competition level — WKU was flattened 63-0 by Alabama (what can you do) before taking down Eastern Kentucky, MTSU and Toledo. The latter is certainly a good win, but the other two are a combined 3-5. However, WKU’s propensity to air the ball out gives me some concern given the up-and-down nature of BC’s secondary. After preseason starter TJ Finley went down due to injury, backup Caden Veltkamp has played well to the tune of a 73.9% completion percentage for 651 yards, 6 TDs and only 2 picks. He’s also rushed for 3 TDs already this season, so his legs will be a red zone threat the Eagles must monitor (especially after Aidan Chiles’ effective scrambling last week). His primary weapon is 6’1 Kisean Johnson, who’s totaled 336 yards and 3 TDs on the young season. He’s a bigger receiver who will try to make splash plays downfield; BC will have to stick with him and eliminate the cover busts we’ve seen in recent weeks to prevent quick strike scores. Easton Messer (16 receptions for 203 yards) is another name to watch, while RB Elijah Young has 15 catches out of the backfield as well. Speaking of RBs, WKU’s rushing game is not the strength of this offense. Collectively, the Hilltoppers have rushed the ball 117 times for only 379 yards, averaging only 3.2 yards per carry. Elijah Young has by far the most carries in the offense at 42, but has only accrued 133 yards on those 42 carries. Quite simply, I expect BC to eliminate WKU’s rushing threat. I think Cam Horsley is by far the best interior defensive lineman this team has seen, and I think Horsley, Ezeiruaku, the rest of the defensive line plus Kam Arnold and Bam Crouch will not give the Hilltoppers any kind of space to run. Hopefully, this should make WKU more one-dimensional and allow BC’s secondary to play freer and with less pressure.Defensively, WKU features a strong defensive line that has already produced 7 sacks despite only featuring one player with more than a single sack (LB Kylan Guidry with 2). DB Devonté Matthews leads the team with 20 tackles and 2 interceptions, so Tommy Castellanos will need to be cautious when looking in his direction. At the end of the day, however, BC should have an athletic advantage here. Bill O’Brien and OC Will Lawing should thus play to their strengths: run the ball (although former Hilltopper Kye Robichaux is a doubt for the contest, Treshaun Ward and Turbo Richard form more than an able 1-2 punch) behind the big guys, let TC make some magic, and get the ball to Lewis Bond. Don't turn the ball over, remain disciplined, and convert the red zone trips into TDs and I think BC should come away with a win. However, the extreme bent towards the passing game in WKU’s offense gives me concern; BC’s secondary has not proven they can play a mistake-free game and quite frankly have gotten pretty lucky with some of their mistakes and busts going unpunished. If this week is the week that luck runs out, this could be a closer game than expected. I think BC wins by more than one possession but does not cover.Picks: WKU +12.5, O 55.5</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Western Kentucky vs. Boston College Football: Betting Preview & Prediction

Week Four saw my first 0-2 column of the season as BC did not cover the spread and the Over did not hit. Let me just say, however, that I will happily go winless for the rest of the season if it produces any more games like BC’s Red Bandana win over Michigan State. With the team already moved on to Western Kentucky, though, we will do the same.