The two highest-scoring power conference team in Week 1? Oregon and ... Pittsburgh. The Panthers cruised to a 62-0 victory last Saturday over Delaware last week, and get thrown right into ACC play with a road trip to Boston College Friday night.
How to watch Pittsburgh vs. Boston College: Preview, TV schedule, betting line and more
The two teams kick off their conference slate Friday night.
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The Panthers scored 42 points in the first half of their opener, riding a strong performance from running back James Conner. The sophomore ran for 153 yards on 14 carries, scoring four touchdowns in the first two quarters. The most surprising aspect of Pitt's offensive explosion: That it was done with just 92 passing yards on 14 pass attempts.
The Eagles had no problem in their opener, either, though not quite to the degree of dominance Pitt displayed. Boston College beat UMass 30-7, with a two-touchdown performance from transfer quarterback Tyler Murphy. The former Florida Gator also led the team in rushing with 118 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. The Eagles held the Minutemen to 202 total yards, including just 2.5 yards per rush.
How to witness
TV: Friday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPN
Online streaming: WatchESPN
The numbers
Rankings and records: Neither team is ranked. Pittsburgh holds a 16-13 lead in the all-time series between these two former Big East members.
Vegas: Pittsburgh is a 4.5-point favorite, with an over/under of 50 points. The line opened with Boston College as a 1-point favorite, moving in the Panthers’ favor after.
Weather forecast: 79 degrees and mostly clear.
Three names to know
James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh. At 6’2 and 250 pounds, the sophomore is an absolute bull in the backfield and showed it with his four-touchdown performance against the Blue Hens. Boston College has long been known for producing quality linebackers, and they’ll need a big performance to stop Conner.
Todd Thomas, LB, Pittsburgh. Thomas had an interception and a tackle for a loss against Delaware, and the Panthers are expecting a big year from the senior. Facing a mobile quarterback in Murphy, the Pitt linebacker corps will be tested.
Tyler Murphy, QB, Boston College. Murphy wasn’t perfect in his first game as an Eagle, but showed the flashes of talent that Florida saw when it signed him out of high school. The senior completed 17 of 24 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown (with one interception) while rushing 13 times for 118 yards and another score.
Two things at stake
Pitt could be a dark horse contender in a wide-open Coastal Division, and an early conference win could go a long way toward that goal.
BC has a tough home date next week against USC, and the momentum from one big home victory could help cause another.
Further reading
For more on Pittsburgh, visit Cardiac Hill. For full Boston College coverage, check out BC Interruption.
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