:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51249949/611906530.0.jpg)
Clemson showed Saturday night that they are up to the task of beating one of the best teams in the country, Louisville, but now comes a different test for the No. 3 Tigers: winning at Boston College on a Friday night.
Despite three turnovers, quarterback Deshaun Watson won his duel with Lamar Jackson under the lights, but the Eagles lead the nation in yards-per-game allowed (202) and yards-per-play allowed (3.53). Even when adjusted for opponent, Boston College is still just as salty on the defensive end. BC is No. 8 in defensive S&P+.
The Eagles are particularly stout against the pass. None of BC’s five opponents have had more than a 60 percent completion percentage against the Eagles and only Virginia Tech has thrown for more than 145 yards against Boston College.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. The broadcasters are Adam Amin, Mack Brown, and Molly McGrath.
Radio: Clemson and Boston College
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: The Tigers head into the Friday night clash as a heavy 17.5 favorite.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation's team blog chats for this game at Shakin the Southland (for Tigers) and BC Interruption (for Eagles).
Three big things to know
- Dabo Swinney isn’t thrilled with the Friday night game. Neither Clemson nor Boston College scheduled the game; rather, it was put in place by the ACC office. "I don’t like it, I don’t like it. I want to be watching my sons on Friday," Swinney told reporters Tuesday. Swinney probably also isn't pleased that the biggest game of the season to date is followed by a short week against an opponent that presents unique challenges on the road.
- You may not think of it, but Clemson and BC actually have some storied history. So much so that there's a rivalry trophy associated with the game. From Shakin the Southland:
- The Eagles will honor alum Welles Crowther Friday night with special gloves and a ceremony for the man who heroically lost his life during the 9/11 attacks. From BC Interruption:
[T]he Boston College Gridiron Club decided in 2008 to fan the rivalry’s flames and tout its illustrious history by awarding the winning team of the Clemson-Boston College game the O’Rourke-McFadden Trophy and rewarding the MVP of the game a replica leather helmet.
As expected, Friday’s game will be the third Red Bandana game honoring fallen hero and Boston College graduate Welles Crowther. For those who are unaware, Crowther was in the Twin Towers when the 9/11 attacks occurred and rushed back into the building to save people who needed help. He did this repeatedly until the towers collapsed, the survivors remember his red bandana that he wore to protect himself from the smoke.